势如破竹

Pronunciation: shì rú pò zhú Literal meaning: Momentum like splitting bamboo

Origin & Usage

This idiom comes from the Jin Dynasty general Du Yu, who compared his army's advance to splitting bamboo (破竹) - once the first section splits, the rest follows effortlessly. The phrase captures the physics of bamboo: initial resistance gives way to cascading momentum. It describes unstoppable progress where each success makes the next easier. Originally military, it evolved to describe any endeavor gaining irresistible momentum. Modern usage describes winning streaks, rapid business expansion, or any situation where success builds upon success.

Examples

English: "The army advanced rapidly, meeting little resistance."

Chinese: 军队势如破竹，几乎没有遇到抵抗。