ba chìm bảy nổi
[ʔɓaː˧˧ t͡ɕim˨˩ ʔɓaj˧˩ noj˧˩]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: ba chìm ba nổi
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(adjective) sunk down three times, floated up seven times
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Sense 2
Meaning · English
(adjective) adrift or unstable, full of struggling
Common questions
What does “ba chìm bảy nổi” mean?
(adjective) sunk down three times, floated up seven times
Is “ba chìm bảy nổi” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.