溃不成军 Kuì bù chéng jūn completely routed

Explanation

形容军队被打得溃不成军，毫无战斗力，四散逃命。比喻彻底失败，一败涂地。

Describes an army that has been completely defeated, rendered combat-ineffective, and scattered in flight. It signifies a total and crushing defeat.

Origin Story

话说三国时期，蜀汉丞相诸葛亮北伐中原，与魏军在祁山展开了激烈的对决。蜀军初战告捷，士气高涨，一路势如破竹，魏军节节败退。然而，魏军主将司马懿老谋深算，他并没有与蜀军正面硬拼，而是采取了坚壁清野的战略，断绝蜀军的粮草供应。诸葛亮在祁山久战不下，粮草告急，蜀军士气也逐渐低落。司马懿抓住时机，率军反攻，蜀军措手不及，阵脚大乱，最终溃不成军，仓皇逃回汉中。此役蜀军损失惨重，诸葛亮也因此抱憾终身，北伐计划搁浅。这场战役也成为了后世军事家研究的经典案例，警示着人们在战争中要周密计划，善于利用战略战术，避免因轻敌冒进而导致全军覆没的悲剧。

huì shuō sān guó shí qī, shǔ hàn chéng xiàng zhū gé liàng běi fá zhōng yuán, yǔ wèi jūn zài qí shān zhǎn kāi le jī liè de duì jué. shǔ jūn chū zhàn gào jié, shì qì gāo zhǎng, yī lù shì rú pò zhú, wèi jūn jié jié bài tuì. rán ér, wèi jūn zhǔ jiāng sī mǎ yì lǎo móu shēn suàn, tā bìng méi yǒu yǔ shǔ jūn zhèng miàn yìng pīn, ér shì cǎi qǔ le jiān bì qīng yě de zhàn lǜe, duàn jué shǔ jūn de liáng cǎo gōng yīng. zhū gé liàng zài qí shān jiǔ zhàn bù xià, liáng cǎo gào jí, shǔ jūn shì qì yě zhú jiàn dī luò. sī mǎ yì zhuā zhù shí jī, shuài jūn fǎn gōng, shǔ jūn cuò shǒu bù jí, zhèn jiǎo dà luàn, zuì zhōng kuì bù chéng jūn, cāng huáng táo huí hàn zhōng. cǐ yì shǔ jūn sǔn shī cǎn zhòng, zhū gé liàng yě yīn cǐ bào hàn zhōng shēn, běi fá jì huà gé qiǎn. zhè chǎng zhàn yì yě chéng le hòu shì jūnshì jiā yán jiū de jīng diǎn àn lì, jǐng shì zhe rén men zài zhàn zhēng zhōng yào zhōu mì jì huà, shàn yú lì yòng zhàn lǜe zhàn shù, bì miǎn yīn qīng dí mào jìn ér dǎo zhì quán jūn fù méi de bēi jù.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang, the chancellor of Shu Han, launched a northern expedition against the Wei kingdom. The initial battles went well for Shu, boosting morale and leading to several victories. However, Sima Yi, the cunning Wei general, avoided direct confrontation. Instead, he employed a scorched-earth strategy, cutting off Shu's supply lines. Prolonged fighting and supply shortages demoralized the Shu army. Sima Yi capitalized on this by launching a counterattack. The Shu army, unprepared, was thrown into disarray and completely routed, fleeing back to Hanzhong in defeat. This campaign resulted in significant losses for Shu, and marked a failure for Zhuge Liang's plans. This battle remains a significant study for military strategists, highlighting the importance of careful planning, effective strategy, and the dangers of overconfidence.

Usage

用于形容军队被打得溃不成军，形容彻底失败。

yòng yú xiáoshǔ jūnduì bèi dǎ de kuì bù chéng jūn, xiáoshǔ chěndì shībài

Used to describe an army that has been completely routed and defeated; it signifies a total and utter failure.

Examples

• 面对敌人的猛烈攻击，我军溃不成军，最终惨败而归。

  miànduì dírén de měngliè gōngjī, wǒ jūn kuì bù chéng jūn, zuìzhōng cǎn bài ér guī.

  Faced with the enemy's fierce attack, our army was routed and eventually retreated in defeat.

• 这场战争，敌军溃不成军，损失惨重。

  zhè chǎng zhànzhēng, dījūn kuì bù chéng jūn, sǔnshī cǎnzhòng.

  In this war, the enemy army was routed, suffering heavy losses.

Related Idioms

• 土崩瓦解

• 一败涂地

• 溃败

Opposite Idioms

• 旗开得胜

• 势如破竹