短兵相接 (duǎn bīng xiāng jiē) — to fight at close quarters; hand-to-hand combat; (figurative) direct and intense confrontation
Definition
A chengyu from ancient warfare meaning 'close-quarters combat with short weapons'. Used figuratively for any fierce, direct confrontation — debates, price wars, or arguments where neither side yields.
idiom
to fight at close quartershand-to-hand combat(figurative) direct and intense confrontation
Examples
- ,短兵相接,。Zhàn chǎng shàng, shuāng fāng duǎn bīng xiāng jiē, dǎ dé nán fēn nán jiě.On the battlefield, the two sides fought at close quarters, locked in a fierce struggle.
- 短兵相接,。Zhè cì biàn lùn sài jìn rù duǎn bīng xiāng jiē de jiē duàn, liǎng wèi xuǎn shǒu hù bù xiāng ràng.The debate competition entered a phase of direct confrontation, with neither contestant giving ground.
- 短兵相接,。Liǎng jiā gōng sī zài jià gé shàng duǎn bīng xiāng jiē, dōu xiǎng qiǎng zhàn shì chǎng fèn é.The two companies are locked in a price war, each trying to grab market share.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.