所向披靡
所向披靡 (suǒ xiàng pī mǐ) literally means “wherever directed, all fall” and expresses “be invincible; defeat all opponents”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: suo xiang pi mi, suo xiang pi mi,所向披靡 meaning, 所向披靡 in english
Be invincible; defeat all opponents
Pronunciation: suǒ xiàng pī mǐ Literal meaning: Wherever directed, all fall
Origin & Usage
Wherever (所) it is directed (向), everything goes flat (披靡). 披靡 is grass going down before wind, and the metaphor is precise about the kind of victory meant: not enemies beaten one at a time but resistance collapsing along the whole line as the thing arrives. Nothing is said about fighting at all. Armies, teams on a run, a product that has taken a market — and the emphasis falls on the absence of any check.
Examples
English: "Their championship team dominated every opponent."
Chinese: 他们的冠军球队所向披靡。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
所向无敌
suǒ xiàng wú dí
Be invincible; have no rivals
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风靡一时
fēng mǐ yī shí
Extremely popular for a time
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欣欣向荣
xīn xīn xiàng róng
Thriving; flourishing
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固若金汤
gù ruò jīn tāng
Impenetrable defenses
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战无不胜
zhàn wú bù shèng
Win every battle; be undefeated
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披荆斩棘
pī jīng zhǎn jí
Overcome all obstacles
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披星戴月
pī xīng dài yuè
Work day and night
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披肝沥胆
pī gān lì dǎn
Give one's all; be completely sincere
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 所向披靡 mean in English?
所向披靡 (suǒ xiàng pī mǐ) literally translates to “Wherever directed, all fall” and is used to express “Be invincible; defeat all opponents”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 所向披靡 used?
Situation: Their championship team dominated every opponent.
What is the pinyin for 所向披靡?
The pinyin pronunciation for 所向披靡 is “suǒ xiàng pī mǐ”.