争分夺秒(爭分奪秒)
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 & action.
Also searched as: zheng fen duo miao, zheng fen duo miao,争分夺秒 meaning, 争分夺秒 in english
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.
When to Use
Situation: The emergency team worked against time to save the patient.
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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 theStrategy & 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”.