千钧一发

Pronunciation: qiān jūn yī fà Literal meaning: A thousand jun on one hair

Origin & Usage

The idiom 千钧一发 (qiān jūn yī fà) originates from the classical Chinese text 《列子·仲尼》. It illustrates a scenario where a single hair (发, fà) is used to suspend a weight of a thousand jun (钧, jūn), an ancient unit of weight equivalent to thirty catties. This imagery vividly conveys a situation of extreme danger or urgency, akin to being on the brink of disaster. Historically, the idiom is associated with the story of Wu King Liu Bi during the Han dynasty, who plotted rebellion against the central government. Despite warnings that his actions were as precarious as a hair holding a thousand jun, Liu Bi proceeded, leading to his downfall. In modern usage, 千钧一发 describes situations of imminent crisis where immediate action is crucial.

Examples

English: "The project is hanging by a thread, and any mistake could lead to disaster."

Chinese: 这个项目千钧一发，任何错误都可能导致灾难。