迫在眉睫
迫在眉睫 (pò zài méi jié) literally means “urgent as brow and lash”and expresses “extremely urgent”.This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: po zai mei jie, po zai mei jie,迫在眉睫 meaning, 迫在眉睫 in english
Pronunciation: pò zài méi jié Literal meaning: Urgent as brow and lash
Origin & Usage
This visceral idiom describes urgency so pressing (迫) it's between (在) the eyebrows (眉) and eyelashes (睫). Its earliest recorded use comes from Tang Dynasty military dispatches, where commanders needed to convey the immediate nature of threats. The anatomical metaphor was chosen deliberately - the space between brow and lash is minimal, suggesting no room for delay. The phrase gained wider use during the Song Dynasty as commerce accelerated and time-sensitive decisions became more common. Modern usage spans from business deadlines to environmental crises, capturing situations where the pressure of time is almost physically felt.
When to Use
Situation: The deadline was so close that immediate action was necessary
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
Learn more →
民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
Learn more →
国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
Learn more →
太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
Learn more →
四海升平
sì hǎi shēng píng
Peace everywhere; universal harmony
Learn more →
安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
Learn more →
故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
Learn more →
落叶归根
luò yè guī gēn
Return to one's roots; go back home
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 迫在眉睫 mean in English?
迫在眉睫 (pò zài méi jié) literally translates to “Urgent as brow and lash”and is used to express “Extremely urgent”. This Chinese idiom belongs to theLife Philosophy category..
When is 迫在眉睫 used?
Situation: The deadline was so close that immediate action was necessary
What is the pinyin for 迫在眉睫?
The pinyin pronunciation for 迫在眉睫 is “pò zài méi jié”.