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一触即发 (yī chù jí fā) — (idiom) on the verge of eruption — describes a situation so tense that a minor event could trigger a crisis or conflict

Definition

An idiom for a tense situation on the brink of exploding — the slightest touch will set it off. Used for conflicts, crises, or emotions about to erupt.

idiom
on the verge of eruption — describes a situation so tense that a minor event could trigger a crisis or conflict

Examples

  • 一触即发，。
    Biān jìng jú shì yī chù jí fā, shuāng fāng jūn duì dōu zuò hǎo le zhàn dòu zhǔn bèi.
    The situation at the border is on the verge of eruption; both sides' armies are ready for battle.
  • 一触即发，。
    Tā men liǎ de guān xì yǐ jīng yī chù jí fā, suí biàn yí jù huà jiù néng chǎo qǐ lái.
    The relationship between the two is already extremely tense; just any word could start an argument.
  • 一触即发，。
    Yì chǎng jīn róng fēng bào yī chù jí fā, zhèng fǔ zhèng zài jǐn jí kāi huì shāng tǎo duì cè.
    A financial storm is about to break out; the government is in an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures.

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 觸; 触 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
角角jiǎo
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ觸chù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 觸 uses 角 for the meaning and 蜀 for the sound; the simplified 触 is a later shorthand.

Open 触 →

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

  • 皀皀jíancient round-mouthed food vessel
  • 卩卩jiéto kneel

即 pairs 皀 (an ancient round-mouthed food vessel) with 卩 (to kneel), showing someone kneeling near the vessel to eat, so it means to come near or approach.

Open 即 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 發; 发 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 发 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (爆发, 出发) it is 發; in others (理发, 头发) it is 髮.

The form 發, which 发 stands for in many words, was originally drawn as a bow firing an arrow.

Open 发 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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