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. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
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。
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Related Chinese Idioms
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Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
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Travel a great distance
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Prosperous people and powerful nation
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National peace and public security
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Golden age of peace and prosperity
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Peace everywhere; universal harmony
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ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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Hard to leave one's homeland
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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: This idiom applies when describing situations involving can't wait; eager.
What is the pinyin for 迫不及待?
The pinyin pronunciation for 迫不及待 is “pò bù jí dài”.