半壁江山

bànbìjiāngshān

idiom #53,996

Meanings

1 half of the country's territory (idiom)
2 a major portion (of territory or influence)
3 a significant share of a domain

Characters

江山 = rivers and mountains = the country's territory.

Examples

宋朝南渡后只剩半壁江山。

Sòng cháo nán dù hòu zhǐ shèng bànbìjiāngshān.

After the Song court fled south, only half the country remained.

这家公司占据了国内市场的半壁江山。

Zhè jiā gōngsī zhànjù le guónèi shìchǎng de bànbìjiāngshān.

This company holds half of the domestic market.

女性撑起了行业的半壁江山。

Nǚxìng chēng qǐ le hángyè de bànbìjiāngshān.

Women hold up half the sky in this industry.

Tips

history

From 蒋士铨's Qing-dynasty drama 《冬青树·提纲》: 半壁江山，比五季朝廷尤小 — 'half the territory, smaller still than the courts of the Five Dynasties'. Originally mourned the Southern Song's reduced realm after losing the north.

usage

Historically: territory lost to invasion. Figuratively today: a dominant share of a market, an industry, or any 'domain'. Modern usage is often metaphorical rather than about actual land.

Stroke Order

半 bàn

壁 bì

江 jiāng

山 shān