前仰后合

• Pinyin: qián yǎng hòu hé
• Hanzi breakdown: 前 = forward; 仰 = 亻+ 卬 (to tilt back/look up); 后 = behind; 合 = 亼 + 口 (to close/come together)

Meaning

Rocking back and forth with uncontrollable laughter. Describes the body swaying forward and backward due to extreme, helpless laughter.

A vivid, colloquial expression describing unrestrained laughter. Used in casual conversation, narrative prose, and film. Often appears when describing a humorous scene. More physically descriptive than 捧腹大笑, emphasising the involuntary swaying of the body.

Examples

1. 他讲的那个笑话太好笑了，全场听众笑得前仰后合，久久无法平静。 That joke he told was so funny that the whole audience was rocking with laughter for a long time and couldn’t calm down.
2. 小品演员的精彩表演把台下观众逗得前仰后合，掌声经久不息。 The skit performer’s brilliant act had the audience doubled over with laughter, and the applause went on and on.
3. 看到朋友模仿老板说话的样子，她笑得前仰后合，眼泪都流出来了。 When she saw her friend imitate their boss, she laughed so hard she rocked back and forth and even cried.

Usage Guide

Context: humour, social, colloquial

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 这位喜剧演员天生幽默，随便讲几句话就能把台下观众逗得前仰后合，满场欢声笑语。(This comedian is naturally humorous and can make the audience rock with laughter with just a few casual words, filling the venue with joy.)
• 他绘声绘色地讲述了出行遭遇的一连串乌龙事件，把同事们逗得前仰后合，整个办公室都充满了欢笑。(He vividly recounted a series of comical mishaps from his trip, making his colleagues rock with laughter and filling the entire office with joy.)

Don't Say

• 我前仰后合地大笑 — 前仰后合 already implies laughing; adding 大笑 is redundant; always use the construction 笑得前仰后合 instead

Origin & History

前仰 (leaning forward) + 后合 (falling back) — the body swaying forward and back from uncontrollable laughter

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal