Korean word

파죽지세

Pronunciation

Romanizationpajukjjise

Meaning

noununstoppable momentum

Example

팀이 파죽지세로 우승을 차지했다.ti mi pa juk jji se ro u seung eul cha ji haet tta

The team won the championship with unstoppable momentum.

Illustration for 파죽지세 (unstoppable momentum)

More examples

신제품은 출시 후 파죽지세로 판매량이 증가했다.sin je pu meun chul si hu pa juk jji se ro pan mae ryang i cheung ga haet tta

Sales of the new product increased with unstoppable momentum after its launch.

Core concept

A breakthrough creates a rapidly growing force that keeps winning and becomes hard to stop.

Common phrases

파죽지세로pa juk jji se ro
with unstoppable momentum
파죽지세를 유지하다pa juk jji se reul yu ji ha da
maintain unstoppable momentum

Similar words

연승yeonseung: Winning several contests in succession forms a winning streak.
승승장구seungseungjanggu: Success follows success as an effort keeps moving ahead.
기세kise: The strength and direction of an ongoing advance.

Definition in Korean

한 번의 계기로 급격히 세력이 불어나 연달아 성공을 거두는 꺾기 어려운 기세를 이르는 사자성어han peo nui kye gi ro keup kkyeo ki se ryeo gi pu reo na yeon da ra seong gong eul keo du neun kkeok kki eo ryeo un ki se reul i reu neun sa ja seong eo

Word origin

This four-syllable idiom comes from a classical Chinese image of bamboo splitting in a line once a crack has started.

Usage tips

The word has a formal tone, so simpler expressions are often more natural in relaxed everyday conversation.

Opposites

침체chimchestagnationnoun
주춤chuchumslowdownnoun