孤注一掷
孤注一掷 (gū zhù yī zhì) literally means “stake everything on one throw” and expresses “all-in risk”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: gu zhu yi zhi, gu zhu yi zhi,孤注一掷 meaning, 孤注一掷 in english
All-in risk
Pronunciation: gū zhù yī zhì Literal meaning: Stake everything on one throw
Origin & Usage
The History of Song records the slander that Wang Qinruo laid before Emperor Zhenzong about Kou Zhun, who had pushed the emperor to the front at the Chanyuan campaign: a gambler down to his last stake (孤注) throws (掷) everything on one cast, and Your Majesty was that stake. The accusation worked and Kou Zhun fell. The phrase keeps the gambling table exactly. It describes the move made because no further moves remain, and it is neutral about courage — the same act reads as decisive or desperate depending only on the result.
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。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
杀一儆百
shā yī jǐng bǎi
Punish to deter others
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将计就计
jiāng jì jiù jì
Turn the enemy's own plot against him
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里应外合
lǐ yìng wài hé
An inside accomplice working with an outside force
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身先士卒
shēn xiān shì zú
Leadership by action
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投鼠忌器
tóu shǔ jì qì
Held back from striking by fear of collateral damage
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以逸待劳
yǐ yì dài láo
Rested against the exhausted
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后生可畏
hòu shēng kě wèi
Youthful potential
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揭竿而起
jiē gān ér qǐ
Grassroots uprising
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 孤注一掷 mean in English?
孤注一掷 (gū zhù yī zhì) literally translates to “Stake everything on one throw” and is used to express “All-in risk”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 孤注一掷 used?
Situation: He decided to invest all his savings in the startup, believing it was his best chance for success.
What is the pinyin for 孤注一掷?
The pinyin pronunciation for 孤注一掷 is “gū zhù yī zhì”.