The Chinese word 起伏 (qǐfú) is a compound formed by combining two characters with opposite yet complementary meanings: 起 (qǐ), meaning "to rise" or "to get up", and 伏 (fú), meaning "to fall", "to lie prostrate", or "to subside". Together, they create a single, evocative concept that literally describes the physical undulation of terrain, like hills and valleys, or waves rising and falling. Metaphorically, it extends to describe fluctuations in emotions, fortunes, or situations, capturing a dynamic, cyclical pattern of upward and downward movement. The formation exemplifies how Chinese often pairs antonyms to express a broader, more abstract idea of continuous change or instability.