Chinese word

当机立断

Pronunciation

Pinyindāng jī lì duàn

Meaning

  • idiomdecide promptly

Example

老板要求我们当机立断，马上开始。láo bǎn yāo qiú wǒ men dāng jī lì duàn mǎ shàng kāi shǐ

The boss asked us to decide promptly and start right away.

Illustration for 当机立断 (decide promptly)

More examples

遇到问题时，他能当机立断地做决定。yù dào wèn tí shí tā néng dāng jī lì duàn dì zuò jué dìng

When he faces a problem, he can make a prompt decision.

Core concept

A person meets a crucial moment, cuts through hesitation, and sets events in motion.

Common phrases

  • 当机立断地做决定dāng jī lì duàn dì zuò jué dìng

    make a prompt decision

  • 当机立断地采取行动dāng jī lì duàn dì cái qǔ xíng dòng

    take prompt action

  • 在关键时刻当机立断zài guān jiàn shí kè dāng jī lì duàn

    make a prompt decision at a critical moment

Similar words

二话不说èr huà bù shuō: Acting at once without offering explanations, excuses, or further discussion.
毫不犹豫háo bù yóu yù: Deciding and acting immediately, with no hesitation.
不假思索bù jiǎ sī suǒ: Giving an answer or taking action immediately, without stopping to think deeply.

Definition in Chinese

面临紧急或重要情况时立刻判断并付诸行动，表现出迅速果断。miàn lín jǐn jí huò zhòng yào qíng kuàng shí lì kè pàn duàn bìng fù zhū xíng dòng biǎo xiàn chū xùn sù guǒ duàn

Word origin

当 (dāng, "face") + 机 (jī, "critical moment") + 立 (lì, "at once") + 断 (duàn, "decide") joins a pressing moment to an immediate decision in a compact classical-style idiom.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this idiom usually describes a person's response to a serious situation, so it sounds stronger and more formal than a casual choice such as picking a snack.

Opposites

Word lists with this word