当头一棒 A blow to the head
Explanation
比喻受到严重警告或突然的打击。
A metaphor for a serious warning or a sudden blow.
Origin Story
从前，在一个偏僻的小山村里，住着一位名叫阿牛的年轻人。他自小顽皮，不务正业，整日游手好闲。他的父母为此操碎了心，多次劝诫他，希望他能改过自新，但阿牛却总是不以为然。一天，村里来了一个云游四方的禅师，听说阿牛不学无术，便决定给他上一课。禅师来到阿牛家，并没有多说什么，只是用手中的木杖轻轻地敲了一下阿牛的头。阿牛顿时感觉犹如五雷轰顶，整个人都清醒了过来。禅师一言不发，转身离开了。这次当头一棒，让阿牛如梦初醒，他开始反思自己的所作所为，并决心改过自新，最终成为村里德高望重的人。
Once upon a time, in a remote mountain village, there lived a young man named An Niu. He was naughty since childhood and did not work. He spent his days doing nothing. His parents were very worried and often exhorted him, but An Niu didn't care. One day, a traveling Zen master came to the village and heard about An Niu's idle life. He decided to give him a lesson. The master came to An Niu's house and didn't say much, only gently tapped An Niu's head with his wooden stick. An Niu immediately felt as if he had been struck by thunder and became very clear-headed. The master said nothing and left. This blow awakened An Niu from his dream. He began to reflect on his actions and decided to change for the better, eventually becoming a respected man in the village.
Usage
用作谓语、宾语；比喻受到严重警告或突然打击。
Used as predicate or object; a metaphor for a serious warning or a sudden blow.
Examples
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他这次的失败，对他来说简直就是当头一棒。
tā zhè cì de shībài, duì tā lái shuō jiǎnzhí jiùshì dāngtóu yībàng
His failure this time was a real blow to him.
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老板的批评对他来说，无疑是一记当头一棒。
lǎobǎn de pīpíng duì tā lái shuō, wúyí shì yī jì dāngtóu yībàng
The boss's criticism was undoubtedly a blow to him..