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铤而走险 (tǐng ér zǒu xiǎn) — to take a risk out of desperation (idiom)

Definition

A chengyu meaning to take a desperate risk when there's no other option. Unlike a calculated gamble, it implies being pushed to the edge by necessity, not choice.

verb
to take a risk out of desperation (idiom)

Examples

  • ，铤而走险，。
    Tā yīn wèi qiàn zhài tài duō, zuì hòu tǐng ér zǒu xiǎn, qù qiǎng jié yín háng.
    Because he owed too much debt, he finally took a desperate risk and robbed a bank.
  • ，铤而走险。
    Zài zǒu tóu wú lù de qíng kuàng xià, yǒu xiē rén huì tǐng ér zǒu xiǎn.
    When there is no way out, some people will take desperate risks.
  • ，铤而走险，。
    Gōng sī miàn lín pò chǎn, lǎo bǎn jué dìng tǐng ér zǒu xiǎn, tóu zī yí gè gāo fēng xiǎn xiàng mù.
    The company was facing bankruptcy, so the boss decided to take a desperate risk and invest in a high-risk project.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鋌; 铤 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
廷
廷tíng鋌dìng
Same sound today

The traditional form 鋌 pairs 金 (metal) with 廷 as a sound part; the simplified 铤 is a shorthand.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

Open 而 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original shape showed a running man, with a foot added later.

Open 走 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 險; 险 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
僉
僉qiān險
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 險 pairs 阝, written in full as 阜, with 僉, which gives the sound; the simplified 险 is a shorthand.

Open 险 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesSafety & Danger

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