一触即发

一觸即發

yīchù-jífā

idiom #15,762

Meanings

1 could happen at any moment
2 on the verge of breaking out
3 hair-trigger

Characters

to touch; to contact

immediately; at once

to fire; to emit; to break out

Examples

两国之间的战争一触即发。

Liǎng guó zhījiān de zhànzhēng yīchùjífā.

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

局势已经到了一触即发的地步。

Júshì yǐjīng dào le yīchùjífā de dìbù.

The situation has reached a hair-trigger point.

Tips

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.

Stroke Order

一 yī

触 chù

即 jí

发 fā