Definition
阵脚 originally refers to the front line or position of an army formation in battle. In modern Chinese it is almost always used figuratively to describe a person's or group's position, composure, or footing in a competitive or tense situation. You commonly see it in fixed phrases like 乱了阵脚 (to lose one's composure or be thrown off balance) and 稳住阵脚 (to hold one's ground or steady oneself). The word functions as a noun and is often the object of verbs like 乱, 稳住, or 打乱.
n.
(figurative) one's positioncomposureor footing (in a situation)(literal) front line or position in a military formation
Examples
- ，阵脚。Duìfāng tūrán gǎibiàn cèlüè, wǒmen yíxiàzi jiù luàn le zhèn jiǎ.The other side suddenly changed their strategy, and we lost our composure in an instant.
- ，阵脚，。Miàn duì wēijī, tā nǔlì wěn zhù zhèn jiǎ, méiyǒu huāngluàn.Facing the crisis, he managed to hold his ground and did not panic.
- 阵脚。Duìshǒu de gōngjī dǎ luàn le wǒmen de zhèn jiǎ.The opponent's attack disrupted our position.
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