迫不及待
迫不及待 (pò bù jí dài) literally means “urgent cannot reach waiting” and expresses “can't wait; eager”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: po bu ji dai, po bu ji dai,迫不及待 meaning, 迫不及待 in english
Can't wait; eager
Pronunciation: pò bù jí dài Literal meaning: Urgent cannot reach waiting
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes urgency (迫) so great that one cannot (不及) wait (待). It captures the psychological state of intense anticipation or impatience. The phrase appeared in Ming Dynasty literature describing characters driven by time pressure or excitement. It represents the peak of eagerness where delay becomes intolerable. Modern usage describes intense anticipation, impatience to begin something, or excitement that cannot be contained.
Examples
English: "She couldn't wait to share the good news with her family."
Chinese: 她迫不及待地想和家人分享这个好消息。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
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yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 迫不及待 mean in English?
迫不及待 (pò bù jí dài) literally translates to “Urgent cannot reach waiting” and is used to express “Can't wait; eager”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 迫不及待 used?
Situation: She couldn't wait to share the good news with her family.
What is the pinyin for 迫不及待?
The pinyin pronunciation for 迫不及待 is “pò bù jí dài”.