快马加鞭

快馬加鞭

kuàimǎ-jiābiān

idiom

Meanings

1 to spur a galloping horse on with the whip (idiom)
2 to go at top speed
3 to redouble one's efforts

Characters

to add; to apply

Examples

HSK 6

项目进入最后阶段，团队快马加鞭地工作。

Xiàngmù jìnrù zuìhòu jiēduàn, tuánduì kuàimǎ-jiābiān de gōngzuò.

With the project in its final stage, the team is working flat out.

HSK 7-9

为了赶上进度，我们必须快马加鞭。

Wèile gǎnshàng jìndù, wǒmen bìxū kuàimǎ-jiābiān.

To catch up on schedule, we have to kick it into high gear.

Tips

history

From Lu You's Song-dynasty poem 《村居》: 生憎快马随鞭影 - describing a horse so fast it already anticipates the whip. The image captures redoubled, urgent effort.

usage

Nearly always used figuratively for accelerating work or a project. Common collocations: 快马加鞭地 + verb, 快马加鞭，全力以赴.

Stroke Order

快 kuài

马 mǎ

加 jiā

鞭 biān