争分夺秒
争分夺秒 (zhēng fēn duó miǎo) literally means “fighting for minutes and seizing seconds” and expresses “race against time; make every second count”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: zheng fen duo miao, zheng fen duo miao,争分夺秒 meaning, 争分夺秒 in english
Race against time; make every second count
Pronunciation: zhēng fēn duó miǎo Literal meaning: Fighting for minutes and seizing seconds
Origin & Usage
This modern idiom emerged during China's industrialization period in the 20th century, reflecting the urgency of national development. It combines 'fighting for' (争) minutes (分) and 'seizing' (夺) seconds (秒) to emphasize making the most of every moment. The phrase became particularly popular during the Great Leap Forward era and remains common in contexts requiring urgent action. It expresses the importance of efficiency and the race against time, commonly used in emergency situations, competitive environments, and deadline-driven work.
Examples
English: "The emergency team worked against time to save the patient."
Chinese: 急救团队争分夺秒地抢救病人。
Related Chinese Idioms
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追本溯源
zhuī běn sù yuán
Trace back to source
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胸有成竹
xiōng yǒu chéng zhú
Have clear plan beforehand
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步步为营
bù bù wéi yíng
Advance methodically with caution
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退避三舍
tuì bì sān shè
Make concessions to avoid conflict
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旁敲侧击
páng qiāo cè jī
Approach indirectly to achieve goal
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兼收并蓄
jiān shōu bìng xù
Embrace diverse ideas inclusively
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 争分夺秒 mean in English?
争分夺秒 (zhēng fēn duó miǎo) literally translates to “Fighting for minutes and seizing seconds” and is used to express “Race against time; make every second count”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 争分夺秒 used?
Situation: The emergency team worked against time to save the patient.
What is the pinyin for 争分夺秒?
The pinyin pronunciation for 争分夺秒 is “zhēng fēn duó miǎo”.