七上八下 (qī shàng bā xià)

Character breakdown

• 七 (qī) · 2 strokes

  Depicts two lines crossing. Based on the original meaning "cut", now written as 切. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

• 上 (shǎng) · 3 strokes

  Originally a small line or dot above a longer line, indicating "up". The vertical line was added to distinguish the character from 二 (two). Opposite of 下.

• 八 (bā) · 2 strokes

  Pictograph of two lines facing away from each other. The current meaning "eight" is a phonetic loan. The original meaning "separate" is now written as 別.

• 下 (xià) · 3 strokes

  Originally a small line or dot below a longer line, indicating "down". The vertical line was added to distinguish the character from 二 (two). Opposite of 上.

Usage

考试前他心里七上八下的。

Before the exam, his heart was pounding with anxiety.

Kǎoshì qián tā xīnlǐ qīshàngbāxià.