在劫难逃 (zài jié nán táo) — there's no escaping fate; what is destined cannot be avoided

Definition

Idiom meaning one's fate is sealed — something bad is unavoidable. Used for disasters, punishment, or consequences that cannot be escaped, stronger than simply 逃不掉.

idiom
there's no escaping fatewhat is destined cannot be avoided

Examples

  • 在劫难逃，。
    Nà xiē zuì fàn zuì zhōng zài jié nán táo, bèi jǐng fāng quán bù zhuā huò.
    Those criminals ultimately could not escape their fate and were all captured by the police.
  • ，在劫难逃，。
    Tā zuò le nà me duō huài shì, zài jié nán táo, chí zǎo huì shòu dào chéng fá.
    He has done so many bad things; there's no escaping fate, and he will be punished sooner or later.
  • 在劫难逃，。
    Zhè chǎng zāi nàn zài jié nán táo, wǒ men zhǐ néng jìn lì jiǎn shǎo sǔn shī.
    This disaster is unavoidable; we can only try our best to minimize the losses.

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.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

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
力力lìpower, force
Sound part声符shēngfú
去
去qù劫jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

劫 pairs 去, which gives the sound, with 力, meaning power or force.

Open 劫 →

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 難; 难 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
隹隹zhuībird
Sound part声符shēngfú
暵
暵hàn難nán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional 難 pairs 隹, a bird, with 暵 for sound, and meant a type of bird. It was later borrowed for other meanings; the modern 难 is a shorthand.

Open 难 →

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
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
兆
兆zhào逃táo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

逃 pairs 辶 (walk) with 兆, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 逃 →

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