如箭在弦 rú jiàn zài xián like an arrow on the string

Explanation

比喻事情紧急，不得不做。

Metaphorically, things are urgent and have to be done.

Origin Story

话说三国时期，蜀汉丞相诸葛亮北伐中原，大军驻扎在祁山脚下。一日，诸葛亮召集众将商议军事，只见他面色凝重，缓缓说道："如今司马懿率领魏军十万精兵，虎视眈眈，我军粮草日渐短缺，形势危急，如箭在弦，不得不发！"众将听罢，个个摩拳擦掌，跃跃欲试。于是，诸葛亮下令全军出击，与魏军展开激战。双方厮杀，刀光剑影，战况异常惨烈。经过几番激烈的交锋，蜀军凭借精良的武器装备和卓越的作战策略，最终取得了胜利，大获全胜。此战之后，蜀军声威大振，为进一步北伐奠定了坚实的基础。

huà shuō sān guó shí qī, shǔ hàn chéng xiàng zhū gě liàng běi fá zhōng yuán, dà jūn zhù zhā zài qí shān jiǎo xià. yī rì, zhū gě liàng zhào jí zhòng jiàng shāng yì jūn shì, zhǐ jiàn tā miàn sè níng zhòng, huǎn huǎn shuō dào:"rújīn sī mǎ yì shuài lǐng wèi jūn shí wàn jīng bīng, hǔ shì dān dān, wǒ jūn liáng cǎo rì jiàn duǎn quē, xíng shì wēi jí, rú jiàn zài xián, bù dé bù fā!" zhòng jiàng tīng bà, gè gè mó quán cā zhǎng, yuè yuè yù shì. yú shì, zhū gě liàng xià lìng quán jūn chū jī, yǔ wèi jūn zhǎn kāi jī zhàn. shuāng fāng sī shā, dāo guāng jiàn yǐng, zhàn kuàng yì cháng cǎn liè. jīng guò jǐ fān jī liè de jiāo fēng, shǔ jūn píng jìng jīng liáng de wǔ qì zhuāng bèi hé zhuó yuè de zuò zhàn cè lüè, zuì zhōng qǔ dé le shèng lì, dà huò quán shèng. cǐ zhàn zhī hòu, shǔ jūn shēng wēi dà zhèn, wèi jìn yī bù běi fá diàn dìng le jiān shí de jī chǔ.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang, the chancellor of Shu Han, prepared to launch a military campaign north. His army was stationed in the mountains under Qishan.One day, Zhuge Liang called together his generals to discuss military matters. He looked serious and said slowly,"Now Sima Yi is leading 100,000 elite Wei troops. Our grain and grass are dwindling, the situation is critical, like an arrow on the string, we must attack!" After hearing this, the generals were all eager to try their best.So Zhuge Liang ordered a full-scale attack, engaging in a fierce battle with the Wei army. The two sides fought a bitter battle, with swords and lights flashing. After several fierce clashes, the Shu army, with its superior weapons and excellent combat strategy, finally won a great victory. After this battle, the Shu army’s prestige soared, laying a solid foundation for further northern campaigns.

Usage

多用于形容局势紧张，必须立即行动。

duō yòng yú xíngróng júshì jǐnzhāng, bìxū lìjí xíngdòng.

Often used to describe a tense situation that requires immediate action.

Examples

• 大战在即，情况如箭在弦，刻不容缓！

  dàzhàn zài jí, qíngkuàng rú jiàn zài xián, kè bù róng huǎn!

  The war is imminent, the situation is like an arrow on the string, there is no time to delay!

• 改革开放的号角已经吹响，形势如箭在弦，一触即发！

  gǎigé kāifàng de hàogiǎo yǐjīng chuīxiǎng, xíngshì rú jiàn zài xián, yī chù jí fā！

  The horn of reform and opening up has already sounded, the situation is like an arrow on the string, about to break out!

Related Idioms

• 箭在弦上

• 刻不容缓

Opposite Idioms

• 从容不迫

• 稳扎稳打