山穷水尽

山窮水盡

shānqióng-shuǐjìn

idiom #36,754

Meanings

1 mountains end and rivers run dry
2 at the end of one's rope
3 in desperate straits

Characters

Examples

公司到了山穷水尽的地步，只能宣布破产。

Gōngsī dào le shānqióngshuǐjìn de dìbù, zhǐnéng xuānbù pòchǎn.

The company was at the end of its rope and had to declare bankruptcy.

就在山穷水尽时，他收到了一份录用通知。

Jiù zài shānqióngshuǐjìn shí, tā shōudào le yí fèn lùyòng tōngzhī.

Just when he was at his wit's end, he got a job offer.

Tips

history

From Lu You's poem 《游山西村》: 山重水复疑无路，柳暗花明又一村. Often paired with 柳暗花明 to express hope at the last moment.

Stroke Order

山 shān

穷 qióng

水 shuǐ

尽 jìn