势如破竹, Like splitting bamboo, English

Explanation

比喻形势发展迅速，势不可挡，就像劈竹子一样，开头几节破开以后，下面的节就顺着刀势一节一节地裂开，毫不费力。形容接连取得胜利，势不可挡。

This idiom means that the situation is developing rapidly and irresistibly, like splitting bamboo. When the first few sections are split, the rest of the sections will easily split along the force of the knife. It describes a series of victories that are unstoppable.

Origin Story

公元263年，晋武帝司马炎决心灭掉东吴，统一中国。他任命杜预为镇南大将军，率领大军进攻东吴。杜预是一位很有才干的军事家，他制定了一系列周密的作战计划，并利用吴国内部矛盾，不断取得胜利。东吴军队节节败退，眼看着就要覆灭了。此时，有人建议杜预暂缓进攻，以防东吴卷土重来。杜预却很有信心地说：“现在我们的军队士气高涨，就像劈竹子一样，开头几节劈开了，后面的节就很容易破了。现在我们已经取得了很大的胜利，东吴已经无力抵抗了，我们一定要乘胜追击，彻底消灭他们！”于是，杜预继续率领军队奋勇前进，最终攻克了东吴首都建业，结束了三国鼎立的局面，统一了中国。

gōng yuán 263 nián, jìn wǔ dì sī mǎ yán jué xīn miè diào dōng wú, tǒng yī zhōng guó. tā rèn mìng dù yù wèi zhèn nán dà jiāng jūn, shuài lǐng dà jūn jìn gōng dōng wú. dù yù shì yī wèi hěn yǒu cái gàn de jūn shì jiā, tā zhì dìng le yī xi lì zhōu mì de zhàn zhàn jì huà, bìng lì yòng wú guó nèi bù máo dùn, bù duàn qǔ dé shèng lì. dōng wú jūn duì jiē jiē bài tuì, yǎn kànzhe jiù yào fù miè le. cǐ shí, yǒu rén jiàn yì dù yù zàn huǎn jìn gōng, yǐ fáng dōng wú juǎn tǔ ér lái. dù yù què hěn yǒu xìn xīn de shuō:“xiàn zài wǒ men de jūn duì shì qì gāo zhǎng, jiù xiàng pī zhú yī yàng, kāi tóu jǐ jié pī kāi le, hòu miàn de jié jiù hěn róng yì pò le. xiàn zài wǒ men yǐ jǐng qǔ dé le hěn dà de shèng lì, dōng wú yǐ jīng wú lì dǐ kàng le, wǒ men yī dìng yào chéng shèng zhuī jī, chè dǐ miè xiāo tā men!” yú shì, dù yù jì xù shuài lǐng jūn duì fèn yǒng qián jìn, zhōng jiū gōng kè le dōng wú shǒu dū jiàn yè, jié shù le sān guó dǐng lì de jú miàn, tǒng yī le zhōng guó.

In 263 AD, Emperor Sima Yan of Jin was determined to destroy the Eastern Wu and unify China. He appointed Du Yu as the General of the Southern Defense and led the army to attack the Eastern Wu. Du Yu was a very capable military strategist, and he developed a series of detailed combat plans, and using the internal contradictions of the Eastern Wu, he continued to win. The Eastern Wu army retreated steadily, and it seemed that they were about to be destroyed. At this time, some people suggested that Du Yu should temporarily suspend the attack to prevent the Eastern Wu from returning. However, Du Yu was very confident and said:

Usage

这个成语形容形势发展迅速，势不可挡，多用来形容取得胜利。

zhè ge chéng yǔ xíng róng shì shì fā zhǎn xùn sù, shì bù kě dǎng, duō yòng lái xíng róng qǔ dé shèng lì.

This idiom describes a situation that is developing rapidly and irresistibly, and is often used to describe a victory.

Examples

我们的工作进展顺利，势如破竹，取得了阶段性胜利。

wǒ men de gōng zuò jìn zhǎn shùnlì, shì rú pò zhú, qǔ dé le jiē duàn xìng shèng lì.

Our work is progressing smoothly, with a momentum like bamboo splitting, and we have achieved a stage victory.
在市场竞争中，我们必须势如破竹，不断进取。

zài shì chǎng jìng zhēng zhōng, wǒ men bì xū shì rú pò zhú, bù duàn jìn qǔ.

In market competition, we must be like bamboo splitting, constantly striving.
面对困难，我们要像破竹一样，势如破竹，勇往直前。

miàn duì kùn nan, wǒ men yào xiàng pò zhú yī yàng, shì rú pò zhú, yǒng wǎng zhí qián.

In the face of difficulties, we must be like splitting bamboo, with a momentum like bamboo splitting, and bravely move forward.
球队势如破竹，连胜三场，士气高涨。

qiú duì shì rú pò zhú, lián shèng sān chǎng, shì qì gāo zhǎng.

The team is on a roll, winning three games in a row, morale is high.
他学习刻苦努力，成绩进步飞快，势如破竹。

tā xué xí kè kǔ nǔ lì, chéng jì jìn bù fēi kuài, shì rú pò zhú.

He studies hard and diligently, his grades are improving rapidly, with a momentum like bamboo splitting.

Explanation

Origin Story

Usage

Examples

Related Idioms

Opposite Idioms