天昏地暗 tiān hūn dì àn sky darkens, earth darkens

Explanation

形容天色昏暗，也比喻社会黑暗混乱的景象。

Describes the dark sky, also used to describe the dark and chaotic social scene.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，京城长安城外，有一片茂密的森林，那里住着一群凶猛的狼。有一天，一场巨大的风暴席卷了这片森林，狂风呼啸，飞沙走石，天昏地暗，日月无光。狼群惊恐万分，四处逃窜，躲避着这可怕的风暴。这时，一位猎户正带着他的猎犬在森林里狩猎，突然，他被这场风暴困住了。他躲在一棵大树下，瑟瑟发抖，不知所措。这时，他发现一只受伤的狼，躲在树根下，痛苦地呻吟着。猎户心生怜悯，上前查看，发现狼的腿被树枝划伤了，血流不止。猎户小心翼翼地帮狼包扎好伤口，还给了它一些食物和水。狼感激地望着猎户，用它那双充满灵性的眼睛，表达着它的谢意。风暴过后，天色渐渐明朗起来，森林恢复了平静。猎户带着他的猎犬离开了森林，而那只受伤的狼，也慢慢地恢复了健康。从那以后，猎户和狼群之间，建立了一种奇特的友谊。他们互相尊重，互相帮助，在森林里和谐共处。

huà shuō táng cháo shí qī, jīng chéng cháng ān chéng wài, yǒu yī piàn mào mì de sēn lín, nà lǐ zhù zhe yī qún xiōng měng de láng. yǒu yī tiān, yī chǎng jù dà de fēng bào xí juǎn le zhè piàn sēn lín, kuáng fēng hū xiào, fēi shā zǒu shí, tiān hūn dì àn, rì yuè wú guāng. láng qún jīng kǒng wàn fēn, sì chù táo cuàn, duǒ bì zhe zhè kě pà de fēng bào. zhè shí, yī wèi liè hù zhèng dài zhe tā de liè quǎn zài sēn lín lǐ shòu liè, tū rán, tā bèi zhè chǎng fēng bào kùn zhù le. tā duǒ zài yī kē dà shù xià, sè sè fā dǒu, bù zhī suǒ cuò. zhè shí, tā fā xiàn yī zhī shòu shāng de láng, duǒ zài shù gēn xià, tòng kǔ de shēn yín zhe. liè hù xīn shēng lián mǐn, shàng qián chā kàn, fā xiàn láng de tuǐ bèi shù zhī huà shāng le, xuè liú bù zhǐ. liè hù xiǎo xīn yì yì de bāng láng bāo zhā hǎo shāng kǒu, hái gěi le tā yī xiē shí wù hé shuǐ. láng gǎn jī de wàng zhe liè hù, yòng tā nà shuāng chōng mǎn líng xìng de yǎn jīng, biǎo dá zhe tā de xiè yì. fēng bào guò hòu, tiān sè jiàn jiàn míng lǎng qǐ lái, sēn lín huī fù le píng jìng. liè hù dài zhe tā de liè quǎn lí kāi le sēn lín, ér nà zhī shòu shāng de láng, yě màn màn de huī fù le jiàn kāng. cóng nà yǐ hòu, liè hù hé láng qún zhī jiān, jiàn lì le yī zhǒng qí tè de yǒuyì. tā men hù xiāng zūn zhòng, hù xiāng bāng zhù, zài sēn lín lǐ hé xié gòng chǔ.

It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, outside the capital city of Chang'an, there was a dense forest where a group of ferocious wolves lived. One day, a huge storm swept through the forest, with howling winds, flying sand and stones, and a dark sky that obscured the sun and moon. The wolf pack was terrified and fled in all directions, seeking refuge from the terrible storm. At that moment, a hunter was hunting in the forest with his hunting dog when he suddenly found himself trapped by the storm. He hid under a large tree, shivering with cold and not knowing what to do. Then he noticed a wounded wolf hiding under the tree roots, whimpering in pain. The hunter was moved with pity and went to check on it. He found that the wolf's leg had been injured by a tree branch and was bleeding profusely. The hunter carefully bandaged the wolf's wound and gave it some food and water. The wolf looked at the hunter gratefully and used its intelligent eyes to express its gratitude. After the storm subsided, the sky gradually cleared and the forest returned to its tranquility. The hunter left the forest with his dog, while the wounded wolf slowly recovered its health. From then on, a unique friendship developed between the hunter and the wolf pack. They respected and helped each other and lived together peacefully in the forest.

Usage

常用来形容天气昏暗，也比喻社会黑暗，政治腐败。

cháng yòng lái xiáoróng tiān qì hūn àn, yě bǐ yù shè huì hēi àn, zhèng zhì fǔ bài

Often used to describe the dark weather, also used to describe the dark and corrupt society.

Examples

• 暴风雨来临，天昏地暗，电闪雷鸣。

  bào fēng yǔ lái lín, tiān hūn dì àn, diàn shǎn léi míng.

  The storm came, the sky and the earth were dark, lightning and thunder.

• 官场腐败，天昏地暗，民不聊生。

  guān chǎng fǔ bài, tiān hūn dì àn, mín bù liáo shēng

  Official corruption, the sky is dark, the people are not living well.

Related Idioms

• 昏天黑地

• 暗无天日

Opposite Idioms

• 天朗气清

• 阳光明媚