此伏彼起 Now up, now down
Explanation
形容事物此起彼伏，连绵不断。
Describes something that goes up and down, repeating continuously.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，边境战事不断，敌军时而进攻，时而退却，如同海浪一般此伏彼起。大将军李靖率领精兵强将，在边境线上与敌军周旋。他深知敌军狡猾，作战策略多变，所以他时刻保持警惕，密切关注敌军的动向，根据敌军的变化调整自身的作战计划，以灵活多变的策略应对敌军的进攻。有时，他故意示弱，诱敌深入，然后集中兵力，给予敌军致命一击。有时，他则采取避其锋芒的策略，保存实力，等待时机再战。就这样，经过几年的浴血奋战，李靖终于取得了胜利，保卫了国家的安全。这场战争的经历，也让后人深刻认识到了战争的残酷和灵活应变的重要性，以及“此伏彼起”在战争中的真实体现。
During the Tang Dynasty, there were constant border conflicts. The enemy sometimes attacked and sometimes retreated, like waves constantly rising and falling. General Li Jing led his elite troops and fought against the enemy on the border. He knew that the enemy was cunning, and their combat tactics constantly changed, so he remained vigilant, closely monitoring the enemy's movements. He adapted his combat plans to the enemy's changes, using flexible and versatile strategies to respond to the enemy's attacks. Sometimes, he feigned weakness to lure the enemy into a trap, then concentrated his forces to deal a fatal blow. Other times, he avoided direct conflict, preserving his strength, waiting for the right moment to strike again. After years of bloody battles, Li Jing finally achieved victory, securing the country's safety. The experience of this war led later generations to understand the brutality of war and the importance of flexibility and adaptability, as well as the real representation of "rise and fall" in war.
Usage
用作谓语、宾语；形容事物发展起伏不断。
Used as a predicate or object; describes the constant ups and downs of the development of things.
Examples
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战事此伏彼起，百姓苦不堪言。
zhànshì cǐ fú bǐ qǐ, bǎixìng kǔ bùkān yán
The war situation fluctuated, and the people suffered greatly.
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股市行情此伏彼起，让人难以捉摸。
gǔshì xíngqíng cǐ fú bǐ qǐ, ràng rén nán yǐ zhuōmó
The stock market is fluctuating, making it difficult to predict what will happen