情急之下

qíngjí zhīxià

phrase

Meanings

1 in a moment of panic
2 in desperation

Characters

situation; feeling

urgent; anxious

Examples

HSK 4

看到孩子掉进河里，她情急之下跳了下去。

Kàndào háizi diàojìn hé lǐ, tā qíngjí zhīxià tiào le xiàqu.

Seeing the child fall into the river, she jumped in without thinking.

HSK 7-9

情急之下，他拿起椅子砸开了窗户。

Qíngjí zhīxià, tā náqǐ yǐzi zákāi le chuānghu.

In a moment of panic, he grabbed a chair and smashed the window open.

Tips

usage

Introduces a rash or clever act done under pressure: 情急之下 + what one did. The same frame gives 一怒之下 (in a fit of anger) and 无奈之下 (having no other choice).

Stroke Order

情 qíng

急 jí

之 zhī

下 xià