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所向披靡 (suǒ xiàng pī mǐ) — invincible; sweeping away all obstacles; unbeatable

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'unbeatable wherever one goes' — used for armies, teams, or competitors who defeat every opponent. Often paired with war or sports contexts.

idiom
invinciblesweeping away all obstaclesunbeatable

Examples

  • 所向披靡，。
    Zhè zhī jūn duì zài zhàn chǎng shàng suǒ xiàng pī mǐ, cóng wèi dǎ guò bài zhàng.
    This army is invincible on the battlefield and has never lost a battle.
  • 所向披靡，。
    Nà zhī zú qiú duì běn sài jì suǒ xiàng pī mǐ, yíng dé le suǒ yǒu bǐ sài.
    That soccer team was unbeatable this season and won all its matches.
  • ，所向披靡。
    Píng jiè chuàng xīn de jì shù, zhè jiā gōng sī zài háng yè zhōng suǒ xiàng pī mǐ.
    With its innovative technology, this company is invincible in the industry.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
斤斤jīnaxe
Sound part声符shēngfú
戶
戶hù所suǒ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

所 pairs 斤, an axe, with 戶, which gives the sound hù; the old meaning was the sound of logging.

Open 所 →

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

向 originally drew 宀 (house) with 口 to show an echo in a place; later it was used for direction.

Open 向 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí披pī
Same sound today

披 pairs 扌 (hand) with 皮, which gives the sound.

Open 披 →

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
非非fēi
Sound part声符shēngfú
麻
麻má靡mí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

靡 combines 非, linked to scattering, with 麻 for sound.

Open 靡 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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