1.
rise and fall; ups and downs; vicissitudes
the fluctuation between success and failure, prosperity and decline
会社の浮沈がかかっている。
The fate of the company hangs in the balance.
Common expression
企業の浮沈は経営者の判断に左右される。
A company's rise and fall depends on the decisions of its management.
業界の浮沈を見てきた人物だ。
He is someone who has witnessed the ups and downs of the industry.
浮沈を繰り返しながら成長してきた企業だ。
It is a company that has grown through repeated ups and downs.
国の浮沈を賭けた戦い。
A battle with the nation's fate at stake.
2.
floating and sinking
the physical act of rising to the surface and sinking
潜水艦の浮沈を調整する。
To adjust the surfacing and submerging of a submarine.
USAGE:
Most commonly used figuratively (sense 1) to describe the rise and fall of organizations, careers, or nations.
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 浮沈がかかっている (the fate is at stake)
- 浮沈を共にする (to share the same fate)
RELATED TERMS:
- 栄枯 (prosperity and decline)
- 盛衰 (rise and fall; prosperity and decline)