波乱万丈
はらんばんじょう stormy and full of drama; full of ups and downs
Why it means this
波乱 (turbulence) + 万丈 (ten thousand fathoms) — 'waves ten thousand fathoms high'; a life full of dramatic ups and downs.
Breakdown
- 波 なみ waves, billows, Poland
- 乱 ラン riot, war, disorder
- 万 よろず ten thousand, 10,000
- 丈 たけ length, ten shaku, measure
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