致命伤 (zhì mìng shāng) — mortal wound, fatal injury; fatal weakness, vulnerability, Achilles' heel

Definition

Literally 'fatal wound' — used for both a physical lethal injury and, more often figuratively, a critical weakness or flaw that brings something down. The figurative sense ('fatal weakness, Achilles' heel') is what learners usually need.

noun
mortal woundfatal injuryfatal weaknessvulnerabilityAchilles' heel
Measure word ·

Examples

  • 致命伤
    Tā zài zhàn dòu zhōng shòu le zhì mìng shāng, méi néng huó xià lái.
    He received a fatal wound in battle and didn't survive.
  • 致命伤
    Zhè ge gōng sī de zhì mìng shāng shì zī jīn bù zú.
    The company's fatal weakness is insufficient capital.
  • 致命伤
    Jiāo ào shì hěn duō rén shī bài de zhì mìng shāng.
    Pride is the Achilles' heel of many people's failure.

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