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一怒之下 (yī nù zhī xià) — in a fit of anger; in a rage; overcome by rage (and act impulsively)

Definition

An idiom meaning 'in a fit of anger' — describes acting impulsively because of sudden rage. It frames the action that follows as rash and emotion-driven, not planned.

idiom
in a fit of angerin a rageovercome by rage (and act impulsively)

Examples

  • 。
    Tā yì yī nù zhī xià bǎ shǒu jī shuāi le.
    In a fit of anger, he smashed his phone.
  • 。
    Lǎo bǎn yì yī nù zhī xià kāi chú le nà ge yuán gōng.
    The boss fired that employee in a fit of rage.
  • ，。
    Tā yì yī nù zhī xià lí kāi le jiā, qù le wài dì.
    She left home in a fit of anger and went to another city.

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
奴
奴nú怒nù
Same sound today

怒 pairs 心 (heart) with 奴, which is used for its sound rather than its meaning of slave.

Open 怒 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

Open 下 →
Appears in
Emotions & FeelingsIdioms & Set Phrases

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