不旋踵

bùxuánzhǒng

idiom

Meanings

1 without turning the heel
2 in an instant, almost immediately
3 without retreating

Characters

Examples

HSK 4

计划才定，情况不旋踵又变了。

Jìhuà cái dìng, qíngkuàng bùxuánzhǒng yòu biàn le.

No sooner was the plan set than the situation changed again.

HSK 7-9

消息一出，股价不旋踵就跌了两成。

Xiāoxi yī chū, gǔjià bùxuánzhǒng jiù diē le liǎng chéng.

The moment the news broke, the stock dropped twenty percent almost instantly.

HSK 7-9

敌军压境，他毫无惧色，不旋踵迎敌。

Díjūn yājìng, tā háowú jùsè, bùxuánzhǒng yíngdí.

With the enemy at the gates he showed no fear, meeting them without a step back.

Tips

usage

Two senses: time (before you can turn around = in a flash) and courage (not turning one's heel = not retreating). Context usually makes it clear. Mostly literary; in speech 一转眼 or 立刻 is more common.

Stroke Order

不 bù

旋 xuán

踵 zhǒng