孤注一掷

Pronunciation: gū zhù yī zhì Literal meaning: Stake everything on one throw

Origin & Usage

The idiom 孤注一掷 (gū zhù yī zhì) is commonly used in classical Chinese literature to describe a situation where one stakes everything on a single venture. The phrase paints a vivid image of placing one's solitary bet (孤注) in a gamble, emphasizing the act of making a decisive and risky move (一掷). While the specific historical origin of this idiom is not clearly documented, it is often associated with strategic decisions in warfare or high-stakes situations where success hinges on a single, bold action. In modern contexts, it is used to describe scenarios where individuals or groups take significant risks, often with the hope of achieving great rewards, but with the understanding that failure could lead to substantial losses.

Examples

English: "He decided to invest all his savings in the startup, believing it was his best chance for success."

Chinese: 他决定孤注一掷，把所有的积蓄都投资在这个初创公司上，认为这是他成功的最佳机会。