Chinese word

千钧一发

Pronunciation

Pinyinqiān jūn yī fà

Meaning

  • idiomon a knife edge

Example

那一刻，局势真是千钧一发。nà yí kè jú shì zhēn shì qiān jūn yí fà

At that moment, the situation was truly on a knife edge.

Illustration for 千钧一发 (on a knife edge)

More examples

火势被迅速控制，大家从千钧一发中松了一口气。huǒ shì bèi xùn sù kòng zhì dà jiā cóng qiān jūn yí fà zhōng sōng le yì kǒu qì

The fire was quickly brought under control, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief after the dangerous moment passed.

Core concept

A situation balanced at the last fragile point before a major failure or conflict.

Common phrases

  • 陷入千钧一发的境地xiàn rù qiān jūn yí fà de jìng dì

    fall into a perilous situation

  • 千钧一发的瞬间qiān jūn yí fà de shùn jiān

    a knife-edge moment

Similar words

命悬一线mìng xuán yí xiàn: A life or important outcome is in immediate danger and rests on a very small margin.
一触即发yí chù jí fā: A tense situation could suddenly lead to conflict or an accident from the slightest provocation.
危在旦夕wēi zài dàn xī: A dangerous situation is approaching its final moment, with trouble possible at any time.
岌岌可危jí jí kě wēi: A dangerously unstable situation could collapse or fail because of even a small change.

Definition in Chinese

比喻形容处于临界的危险时刻，距离发生严重后果只差一线。bǐ yù xíng róng chǔ yú lín jiè de wēi xiǎn shí kè jù lí fā shēng yán zhòng hòu guǒ zhǐ chà yí xiàn

Word origin

The idiom combines 千 (qiān, "thousand") and 钧 (jūn, "jun, a weight unit") with 一 (yī, "one") and 发 (fà, "hair") to picture an enormous weight resting on a single hair.

Usage tips

  • Its literary, dramatic tone suits news reports, narratives, and serious commentary, but sounds marked in casual small talk.

Other meanings

  • on the verge of collapseidiom
  • on the brink of conflictidiom

Opposites

Word lists with this word