一触即发

一觸即發

yīchù-jífā

idiom #15,762

Meanings

HSK 4

两国之间的战争一触即发。

Liǎng guó zhījiān de zhànzhēng yīchù-jífā.

War between the two countries could break out at any moment.

HSK 7-9

局势已经到了一触即发的地步。

Júshì yǐjīng dào le yīchù-jífā de dìbù.

The situation has reached a hair-trigger point.

memory

一触即发: 'one touch, instantly fires' - like a loaded gun with its safety off. Touch it and it goes off. Used for tense situations about to explode.

一 yī

触 chù

即 jí

发 fā