人命关天 rén mìng guān tiān Human life is at stake

Explanation

形容事情关系到人命，非常重要紧急。

Describes a situation where human life is at stake and of utmost importance and urgency.

Origin Story

话说唐朝贞观年间，长安城外发生了一场大火，火势凶猛，波及数家民宅。当时，御医李时珍正在附近采药，他听到呼救声，立刻放下药篮，冲进火海。他冒着生命危险，一次又一次地冲进火场，救出被困的百姓。其中有一个婴儿，被火烧得奄奄一息，李时珍用自己的衣衫裹住婴儿，小心翼翼地把他从火海中抱了出来。最后，在李时珍的努力下，所有被困人员都安全获救。这场大火，虽然烧毁了许多房屋，但由于李时珍的英勇救助，没有人因此丧命。此事传开后，人们都赞扬李时珍舍己为人，人命关天的伟大精神。

huà shuō táng cháo zhēn guān nián jiān, cháng ān chéng wài fā shēng le yī chǎng dà huǒ, huǒ shì xīo ménɡ, bō jí shù jiā mín zhái. dāng shí, yù yī lǐ shí zhēn zhèng zài fù jìn cǎi yào, tā tīng dào hū jiù shēng, lì kè fàng xià yào lán, chōng jìn huǒ hǎi. tā mào zhe shēng mìng wēi xiǎn, yī cì yī cì de chōng jìn huǒ chǎng, jiù chū bèi kùn de bǎi xìng. qí zhōng yǒu yī gè yīng ér, bèi huǒ shāo de yǎn yǎn yī xī, lǐ shí zhēn yòng zì jǐ de yī shān guǒ zhù yīng ér, xiǎo xīn yì yì de bǎ tā cóng huǒ hǎi zhōng bào le chū lái. zuì hòu, zài lǐ shí zhēn de nǔ lì xià, suǒ yǒu bèi kùn rén yuán dōu ān quán huò jiù. zhè chǎng dà huǒ, suī rán shāo huǐ le xǔ duō fáng wū, dàn yóu yú lǐ shí zhēn de yīng yǒng jiù zhù, dàn méi yǒu rén yīn cǐ sàng mìng. cǐ shì chuán kāi hòu, rén men dōu zàn yáng lǐ shí zhēn shě jǐ wéi rén, rén mìng guān tiān de wěi dà jīng shén.

During the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, a large fire broke out outside the city of Chang'an. The fire spread rapidly and engulfed several houses. At that time, imperial physician Li Shizhen was collecting herbs nearby. Upon hearing the cries for help, he immediately dropped his basket and rushed into the inferno. Risking his own life, he repeatedly dashed into the fire, rescuing trapped citizens. One infant was severely burned and barely alive. Li Shizhen wrapped the baby in his own clothes and carefully carried him to safety. Thanks to Li Shizhen's efforts, all trapped people were successfully rescued. Although the fire destroyed many houses, no one lost their life thanks to his courageous rescue. When the news spread, people praised Li Shizhen's selflessness and his great spirit of putting human life above all else.

Usage

用于强调事情的重要性，关系到人命，非同小可。

yòng yú qiáng diào shì qing de zhòng yào xìng, guān xì dào rén mìng, fēi tóng xiǎo kě

Used to emphasize the importance of a matter, concerning human life, and of utmost significance.

Examples

• 人命关天，岂能儿戏！

  rén mìng guān tiān, qǐ néng ér xí!

  Human life is at stake, how can we trifle with it?!

• 抢救伤员，人命关天，刻不容缓！

  qiǎng jiù shāng yuán, rén mìng guān tiān, kè bù róng huǎn!

  Saving the wounded, human life is at stake, there is no time to lose!

Related Idioms

• 生死攸关

• 千钧一发

Opposite Idioms

• 无关紧要

• 微不足道