逼上梁山
逼上梁山 (bī shàng liáng shān) literally means “forced onto liangshan mountain” and expresses “compelled to rebel”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: bi shang liang shan, bi shang liang shan,逼上梁山 meaning, 逼上梁山 in english
Compelled to rebel
Pronunciation: bī shàng liáng shān Literal meaning: Forced onto Liangshan Mountain
Origin & Usage
Liangshan is the marsh stronghold of the outlaws in the Water Margin, and the novel's structure is the phrase's meaning: its heroes are not born rebels but officers, instructors and clerks driven there one by one by officials they could not appeal against. Lin Chong, framed and hunted, is the type. Being forced (逼) up (上) to Liangshan (梁山) therefore describes rebellion entered as the last remaining option, and it now covers any drastic step somebody was manoeuvred into rather than chose.
Examples
English: "He felt he had no choice but to rebel against the system, much like those who were forced onto Liangshan."
Chinese: 他觉得自己别无选择，只能像被逼上梁山的人一样反抗体制。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
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fàng hǔ guī shān
Empower a threat
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偷梁换柱
tōu liáng huàn zhù
Deceive by substitution
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心花怒放
xīn huā nù fàng
Extreme joy
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独木难支
dú mù nán zhī
Insufficient individual effort
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悬梁刺股
xuán liáng cì gǔ
Study extremely hard
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绕梁三日
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Lasting impact of performance
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含辛茹苦
hán xīn rú kǔ
Persevere through adversity
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快马加鞭
kuài mǎ jiā biān
Accelerate progress
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 逼上梁山 mean in English?
逼上梁山 (bī shàng liáng shān) literally translates to “Forced onto Liangshan Mountain” and is used to express “Compelled to rebel”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 逼上梁山 used?
Situation: He felt he had no choice but to rebel against the system, much like those who were forced onto Liangshan.
What is the pinyin for 逼上梁山?
The pinyin pronunciation for 逼上梁山 is “bī shàng liáng shān”.