TongTong
Sign in

不堪一击 (bù kān yì jī) — extremely fragile; unable to withstand even the slightest attack or criticism

Definition

Used for arguments, defenses, or teams that are so weak they crumble under any pressure — 'collapses at the first blow.' Stronger than just saying something is 脆弱 (fragile).

idiom
extremely fragileunable to withstand even the slightest attack or criticism

Examples

  • 不堪一击，。
    Zhè ge lùn diǎn shí zài bù kān yì jī, hěn róng yì bèi fǎn bó.
    This argument is really fragile; it's easily refuted.
  • 不堪一击，。
    Tā men de fáng shǒu bù kān yì jī, duì fāng qīng yì jiù dé fēn le.
    Their defense couldn't withstand a single blow; the opponent scored easily.
  • 不堪一击。
    Quē fá jīng yàn de tuán duì wǎng wǎng bù kān yì jī.
    Teams lacking experience often cannot withstand even one setback.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
甚
甚shèn堪kān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 土 is earth. The right part 甚 gives the sound and also hints at something extreme, matching the old idea of a heavy earthen protrusion whose weight one bears.

Open 堪 →

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 擊; 击 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
毄
毄jī擊jī
Same sound today

The traditional form 擊 has 手 (hand) and 毄; 毄 gives the sound and also points to striking, while the simplified 击 is a later shorthand.

Open 击 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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