Chinese word

背水一战

Pronunciation

Pinyinbèi shuǐ yī zhàn

Meaning

  • idiommake a desperate last stand

Example

我们只能背水一战，不能再撤退了。wǒ men zhǐ néng bèi shuǐ yí zhàn bù néng zài chè tuì le

We can only make a desperate last stand; we cannot retreat any farther.

Illustration for 背水一战 (make a desperate last stand)

More examples

比赛最后阶段，球队以背水一战的态度发动反攻。bǐ sài zuì hòu jiē duàn qiú duì yǐ bèi shuǐ yí zhàn de tài dù fā dòng fǎn gōng

In the final stage of the game, the team launched a counterattack with desperate resolve.

Core concept

A person with no route back puts everything into one final attempt to succeed.

Common phrases

  • 与对手背水一战yǔ duì shǒu bèi shuǐ yí zhàn

    make a desperate last stand against an opponent

  • 以背水一战的态度yǐ bèi shuǐ yí zhàn de tài dù

    with desperate resolve

  • 走上背水一战的道路zǒu shàng bèi shuǐ yí zhàn de dào lù

    embark on a desperate last stand

Similar words

破釜沉舟pò fǔ chén zhōu: A determined effort made after cutting off every way to retreat.
孤注一掷gū zhù yí zhì: Putting everything on one remaining choice in a risky attempt to succeed.
不顾一切bú gù yí qiè: Acting without regard for the result or any danger.

Definition in Chinese

指在没有退路的情况下采取孤注一掷的行动，以决死态度争取胜利的最后一搏。zhǐ zài méi yǒu tuì lù de qíng kuàng xià cái qǔ gū zhù yí zhì de xíng dòng yǐ jué sǐ tài dù zhēng qǔ shèng lì de zuì hòu yì bó

Word origin

背水一战 (bèishuǐyīzhàn, "fight with one's back to the water") is based on the story of Han Xin, who put his soldiers with water behind them and forced them to fight without retreat.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, it describes a serious final attempt, so it can sound exaggerated when used for a small problem or an ordinary choice.

Opposites

  • 退避三舍tuì bì sān shègive way to avoid a conflictidiom

Word lists with this word