不堪一击

不堪一擊

bùkān-yījī

idiom #22,686

Meanings

1 cannot withstand a single blow
2 extremely fragile
3 to collapse at the first strike
4 paper tiger

Characters

to bear / to withstand / to endure

to strike / to hit / a blow

Examples

他们的防线其实不堪一击，一旦突破就全线崩溃。

Tāmen de fángxiàn qíshí bùkānyījī, yīdàn tūpò jiù quán xiàn bēngkuì.

Their defense line is actually extremely fragile — once breached, the entire line collapses.

这个理论看似严密，其实不堪一击。

Zhège lǐlùn kànsì yánmì, qíshí bùkānyījī.

This theory appears rigorous on the surface, but actually cannot withstand scrutiny.

对手的实力远超预期，我方战术不堪一击。

Duìshǒu de shílì yuǎnchāo yùqī, wǒfāng zhànshù bùkānyījī.

The opponent's strength far exceeded expectations, and our tactics couldn't withstand a single blow.

Tips

usage

不堪一击 is used for both physical fragility (a weak army, a poorly built structure) and intellectual/logical weakness (an argument that falls apart under examination). It always describes something that appears to have strength but is actually hollow.

memory

不堪 = cannot bear / cannot withstand. 一击 = one strike/blow. Even a single hit is too much to handle.

Stroke Order

不 bù

堪 kān

一 yī

击 jī