枕戈待旦
枕戈待旦 (zhěn gē dài dàn) literally means “pillow spear await dawn”and expresses “maintain high vigilance awaiting challenge”.This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy & action.
Also searched as: zhen ge dai dan, zhen ge dai dan,枕戈待旦 meaning, 枕戈待旦 in english
Pronunciation: zhěn gē dài dàn Literal meaning: Pillow spear await dawn
Origin & Usage
Among the ancient verses of the 'Book of Songs' (1000-600 BCE), this image of soldiers using spears as pillows (枕戈) while awaiting dawn (待旦) captured the essence of vigilant readiness. The concept of sacrificing comfort for security resonated deeply in ancient Chinese military thought. Han Dynasty texts elevated it to a principle of military preparedness. Today, it describes maintaining constant vigilance in competitive environments, from security operations to business strategy.
When to Use
Situation: The security team remained vigilant throughout the night, prepared for any threat
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Related Chinese Idioms
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万无一失
wàn wú yī shī
Absolutely sure; foolproof
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mì bù tòu fēng
Airtight; impenetrable
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tiān luó dì wǎng
Inescapable net; dragnet
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shì zài bì xíng
Be imperative; must be done
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Proceed steadily; consolidate before advancing
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yù qín gù zòng
Give slack before tightening; let go to catch
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wéi wèi jiù zhào
Relieve pressure by attacking the source
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yǐ tuì wéi jìn
Strategic retreat for ultimate victory
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 枕戈待旦 mean in English?
枕戈待旦 (zhěn gē dài dàn) literally translates to “Pillow spear await dawn”and is used to express “Maintain high vigilance awaiting challenge”. This Chinese idiom belongs to theStrategy & Action category..
When is 枕戈待旦 used?
Situation: The security team remained vigilant throughout the night, prepared for any threat
What is the pinyin for 枕戈待旦?
The pinyin pronunciation for 枕戈待旦 is “zhěn gē dài dàn”.
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