短兵相接 duǎn bīng xiāng jiē close combat

Explanation

指双方短兵相接，激烈搏斗。也比喻双方直接对抗，展开激烈斗争。

It refers to the two sides engaging in a fierce melee. It also metaphorically describes the direct confrontation and fierce struggle between the two sides.

Origin Story

公元前279年，秦军攻破赵都邯郸，赵国危在旦夕。廉颇率领赵军顽强抵抗，秦军久攻不下。双方在邯郸城下短兵相接，展开了一场激烈的战斗。赵军将士奋勇杀敌，与秦军浴血奋战，战斗异常惨烈。秦军虽然人数众多，装备精良，但在赵军的顽强抵抗下，也损失惨重。最终，秦军无力继续进攻，被迫撤兵。这场战斗，赵军以寡敌众，取得了辉煌的胜利，也充分展现了赵军将士的英勇无畏和不怕牺牲的精神。这场短兵相接的战斗，成为了中国历史上著名的以弱胜强的经典战例，也激励着一代又一代的中国人。

gōngyuán qián 279 nián, qín jūn gōng pò zhào dū hándān, zhào guó wēi zài dàn xī. lián pō shuài lǐng zhào jūn wán qiáng dǐ kàng, qín jūn jiǔ gōng bù xià. shuāng fāng zài hándān chéng xià duǎn bīng xiāng jiē, zhǎn kāi le yī chǎng jī liè de zhàn dòu. zhào jūn jiàng shì fèn yǒng shā dí, yǔ qín jūn yù xuè fèn zhàn, zhàn dòu yì cháng cǎn liè. qín jūn suī rán rén shù zhòng duō, zhāo bèi jīng liáng, dàn zài zhào jūn de wán qiáng dǐ kàng xià, yě sǔn shī cǎn zhòng. zuì zhōng, qín jūn wú lì jìxù jīngōng, pò pò chè bīng. zhè chǎng zhàn dòu, zhào jūn yǐ guǎ dí zhòng, qǔ dé le huī huáng de shèng lì, yě chōng fèn zhǎn xiàn le zhào jūn jiàng shì de yīng yǒng wú wèi hé bù pà xī shēng de jīngshén. zhè chǎng duǎn bīng xiāng jiē de zhàn dòu, chéng le zhōng guó lì shǐ shàng zhù míng de yǐ ruò shèng qiáng de jīng diǎn zhàn lì, yě jī lì zhōng yī dài yòu yī dài de zhōng guó rén.

In 279 BC, the Qin army broke through the Zhao capital Handan, and the state of Zhao was on the verge of collapse. Lian Po led the Zhao army in tenacious resistance, and the Qin army was unable to capture the city for a long time. The two sides engaged in close combat outside the city of Handan, launching a fierce battle. Zhao soldiers fought bravely and desperately against the Qin army, and the battle was extremely fierce. Although the Qin army was large in number and well-equipped, they also suffered heavy casualties under the tenacious resistance of the Zhao army. Eventually, the Qin army was unable to continue the attack and was forced to withdraw its troops. In this battle, the Zhao army achieved a brilliant victory against overwhelming odds, demonstrating the bravery and fearlessness of its soldiers and their willingness to sacrifice themselves. This close combat battle became a famous example in Chinese history of a victory of the underdog and has inspired generation after generation of Chinese people.

Usage

常用于描写战争场景，也可用以形容激烈的竞争或斗争。

cháng yòng yú miáo xiě zhàn zhēng chǎng jǐng, yě kě yòng yǐ xíng róng jī liè de jìng zhēng huò dòu zhēng

Often used to describe war scenes, it can also be used to describe fierce competition or struggles.

Examples

• 两军短兵相接，厮杀声震耳欲聋。

  liǎng jūn duǎn bīng xiāng jiē, sī shā shēng zhèn ěr yú lóng

  The two armies clashed in close combat, the cries of the fighting deafening.

• 谈判破裂，双方短兵相接，展开激烈的竞争。

  tán pán pò liè, shuāng fāng duǎn bīng xiāng jiē, zhǎn kāi jī liè de jìng zhēng

  Negotiations broke down, and the two sides engaged in fierce competition.

Related Idioms

• 交锋

• 冲突

• 对抗

Opposite Idioms

• 相安无事

• 和平共处