TongTong
Sign in

一声令下 (yì shēng lìng xià) — as soon as the order is given; at the word of command

Definition

An idiom for 'at the word of command' — emphasizes that everyone acts instantly once the order is given, carrying a strong military or authoritative tone.

idiom
as soon as the order is givenat the word of command

Examples

  • 一声令下，。
    Jiāng jūn yì shēng lìng xià, shì bīng men lì kè chū fā.
    The general gave the order, and the soldiers set off immediately.
  • ，一声令下，。
    Bǐ sài kāi shǐ, jiào liàn yì shēng lìng xià, duì yuán men chōng le chū qù.
    The game started; at the coach's command, the team members rushed out.
  • 一声令下，。
    Lǎo bǎn yì shēng lìng xià, quán tǐ yuán gōng kāi shǐ jiā bān.
    The boss gave the order, and all employees started working overtime.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 聲; 声 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
耳耳ěrear
Sound part声符shēngfú
殸
殸qìng聲shēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 聲 pairs 耳 (ear) with 殸 as a sound part; the simplified 声 is a shorthand and does not show those original parts.

Open 声 →

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

  • 亼亼jí
  • 卩卩jié

In 令, the upper 亼 is an open mouth and the lower 卩 is a kneeling person, together showing someone giving orders.

Open 令 →

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
Idioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.