枕戈待旦
枕戈待旦 (zhěn gē dài dàn) literally means “pillow spear await dawn” and expresses “maintain high vigilance awaiting challenge”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: zhen ge dai dan, zhen ge dai dan,枕戈待旦 meaning, 枕戈待旦 in english
Maintain high vigilance awaiting challenge
Pronunciation: zhěn gē dài dàn Literal meaning: Pillow spear await dawn
Origin & Usage
Among the ancient verses of the 'Book of Songs' (1000-600 BCE), this image of soldiers using spears as pillows (枕戈) while awaiting dawn (待旦) captured the essence of vigilant readiness. The concept of sacrificing comfort for security resonated deeply in ancient Chinese military thought. Han Dynasty texts elevated it to a principle of military preparedness. Today, it describes maintaining constant vigilance in competitive environments, from security operations to business strategy.
When to Use
Situation: The security team remained vigilant throughout the night, prepared for any threat
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 枕戈待旦 mean in English?
枕戈待旦 (zhěn gē dài dàn) literally translates to “Pillow spear await dawn” and is used to express “Maintain high vigilance awaiting challenge”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 枕戈待旦 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving maintain high vigilance awaiting challenge.
What is the pinyin for 枕戈待旦?
The pinyin pronunciation for 枕戈待旦 is “zhěn gē dài dàn”.