兹事体大 zī shì tǐ dà The matter is of great importance

Explanation

指事情重大，关系重大。

Refers to a matter of great importance and significance.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，边关告急，敌军来势汹汹，大将李靖正在帐中与众将商议对策。一名小校匆匆来报：“启禀大将军，前方探子来报，敌军兵分三路，欲绕道攻打我后方粮草辎重！”李靖沉吟片刻，缓缓说道：“兹事体大，关系到我军胜败存亡，不可掉以轻心！传令下去，全军戒备，严防死守，务必将敌军阻挡在国境之外！”众将领命而去。李靖立刻下令加固营寨，调兵遣将，严阵以待。数日后，敌军果然绕道而来，意图袭击我军后方。我军早已做好准备，以逸待劳，将敌军打得措手不及，大败而归。此战，我军以少胜多，最终取得了胜利。这不仅因为我军将士英勇善战，更因为李靖将军的果断决策和对局势的精准判断，他深刻明白‘兹事体大’的含义，并迅速采取了有效措施，将危机化解于无形。

huàshuō táng cháo shíqī, biānguān gàojí, díjūn láishì xīngxiōng, dàjiàng lǐ jìng zhèng zài zhàng zhōng yǔ zhòng jiàng shāngyì duìcè. yī míng xiǎoxiào cōngcōng lái bào：“qǐbǐng dà jiāngjūn, qiánfāng tànzǐ lái bào, díjūn bīng fēn sān lù, yù ràodào gōngdǎ wǒ hòufāng liángcǎo zīzhòng！”lǐ jìng chén yín piànkè, huǎnhuǎn shuōdào：“zīsìtǐdà, guānxì dào wǒ jūn shèng bài cúnwáng, bùkě diàoyǐqīngxīn！chuán lìng xiàqù, quánjūn jièbèi, yánfáng sǐshǒu, wùbì jiāng díjūn zǔdǎng zài guó jìng zhīwài！”zhòng jiàng lǐng mìng ér qù. lǐ jìng lìkè xià lìng jiāgù yíngzhài, diàobīng qiǎnjiàng, yánzhèn dàidài. shù rì hòu, díjūn guǒrán ràodào ér lái, yìtú xíjí wǒ jūn hòufāng. wǒ jūn zǎoyǐ zuò hǎo zhǔnbèi, yǐ yì dài láo, jiāng díjūn dǎ de cuòshǒubùjí, dà bài ér guī. cǐ zhàn, wǒ jūn yǐ shǎo shèng duō, zuìzhōng qǔdé le shènglì. zhè bù jǐn yīn wèi wǒ jūn jiàngshì yīngyǒng shànzhàn, gèng yīn wèi lǐ jìng jiāngjūn de guǒduàn juécè hé duì júshì de jīngzhǔn pànduàn, tā shēnkè míngbái ‘zīsìtǐdà’ de hànyì, bìng sùnsù cǎiqǔ le yǒuxiào cuòshī, jiāng wēijī huàjiě yú wú xíng.

During the Tang Dynasty in China, a border post was attacked, and the enemy's offensive was unstoppable. General Li Jing was in his tent discussing strategies with his officers. A young soldier rushed in with a report: "General, the scouts report that the enemy army has split into three groups, planning to bypass our defense and attack our rear supplies!" Li Jing pondered for a moment, then slowly said: "This matter is of great importance, it affects our victory or defeat, survival or death, it cannot be taken lightly! Give the order, the whole army is on high alert, strengthen defenses, and make sure to block the enemy at the border!" The officers followed the order. Li Jing immediately ordered the reinforcement of the camp, the dispatch of troops, and the preparation for battle. A few days later, the enemy did indeed bypass our defenses, intending to attack our rear. But our army was ready and waited for the battle with ease. They struck the enemy unexpectedly and defeated them. In this battle, our smaller army won the victory, not just due to the bravery of the soldiers but because of General Li Jing's decisive decision and accurate judgment. He understood the true meaning of the saying 'this matter is of great importance' and quickly took effective measures, neutralizing the crisis.

Usage

作谓语、宾语、定语；指事情重大，关系重大。

zuò wèiyǔ, bīnyǔ, dìngyǔ; zhǐ shìqíng zhòngdà, guānxì zhòngdà

Used as a predicate, object, and attributive; refers to a matter of great importance and significance.

Examples

• 此事兹事体大，不可掉以轻心。

  cǐshì zīsìtǐdà, bùkě diàoyǐqīngxīn

  This matter is of great importance and cannot be taken lightly.

• 兹事体大，非我一人所能决断。

  zīsìtǐdà, fēi wǒ yī rén suǒ néng juédùn

  This matter is too important for me to decide alone.

Related Idioms

• 事关重大

• 关系重大

Opposite Idioms

• 微不足道

• 无关紧要