势不可挡
势不可挡 (shì bù kě dǎng) literally means “momentum that cannot be blocked” and expresses “unstoppable; irresistible momentum”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: shi bu ke dang, shi bu ke dang,势不可挡 meaning, 势不可挡 in english
Unstoppable; irresistible momentum
Pronunciation: shì bù kě dǎng Literal meaning: Momentum that cannot be blocked
Origin & Usage
A momentum (势) that cannot (不可) be blocked (挡). In the History of the Jin, Chi Jian uses it of a rebel force: their momentum cannot be met head-on, so it must be undone by calculation rather than by strength. That is the useful part — the phrase is a statement about how to respond, not just a description of force. 势 is central to Chinese strategic vocabulary, closer to positional advantage than to raw power.
Examples
English: "The technological revolution is an unstoppable force reshaping society."
Chinese: 科技革命势不可挡,正在重塑社会。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
争分夺秒
zhēng fēn duó miǎo
Race against time; make every second count
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势如破竹
shì rú pò zhú
Irresistible momentum; sweeping advance
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势在必行
shì zài bì xíng
No longer optional
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虚张声势
xū zhāng shēng shì
Bluffing with fake display
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后来居上
hòu lái jū shàng
Latecomers surpass the early starters
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独当一面
dú dāng yī miàn
Capable of taking charge independently
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名列前茅
míng liè qián máo
Rank among the best; be at the top
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励精图治
lì jīng tú zhì
Work hard to improve governance
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 势不可挡 mean in English?
势不可挡 (shì bù kě dǎng) literally translates to “Momentum that cannot be blocked” and is used to express “Unstoppable; irresistible momentum”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 势不可挡 used?
Situation: The technological revolution is an unstoppable force reshaping society.
What is the pinyin for 势不可挡?
The pinyin pronunciation for 势不可挡 is “shì bù kě dǎng”.