临危受命

臨危受命
línwēi-shòumìng
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to take on a mission in a crisis
  2. 2 to accept a responsibility at a critical moment
  3. 3 to answer the call of duty in times of danger

Examples

Tā línwēi-shòumìng, jiē xià le zhège làntānzi.
He took on the mission in this crisis and inherited the mess.
Xīn jiàoliàn línwēi-shòumìng, dàilǐng qiúduì zǒu chū le dīgǔ.
The new coach took charge at a critical moment and led the team out of its slump.

Tips

history
Traces to Zhuge Liang's 《前出师表》: 受任于败军之际,奉命于危难之间。 - Zhuge Liang accepted command when Liu Bei's forces had just been defeated. The modern four-character idiom condenses this sentiment.
usage
Laudatory - frames the subject as duty-bound and competent. Common in news about new executives, military commanders, or officials taking over a struggling department.

Stroke Order

lín
wēi
shòu
mìng