势不可当

勢不可當

shìbù-kědāng

idiom HSK 7-9 #88,980

Meanings

1 unstoppable
2 irresistible (momentum)

Characters

momentum; force

to withstand; to block

Examples

洪水来势不可当。

Hóngshuǐ lái shìbùkědāng.

The flood came with unstoppable force.

改革的潮流势不可当。

Gǎigé de cháoliú shìbùkědāng.

The tide of reform is unstoppable.

Tips

mistakes

The 当 here is read dāng (to withstand/block), not dàng. The idiom means 'the momentum cannot be blocked.'

memory

势 (momentum) + 不可 (cannot) + 当 (block) = momentum that cannot be blocked → unstoppable.

Stroke Order

势 shì

不 bù

可 kě

当 dāng