剑拔弩张

劍拔弩張

jiànbá-nǔzhāng

idiom #28,177

Meanings

HSK 7-9

两国边境局势剑拔弩张，随时可能爆发冲突。

Liǎng guó biānjìng júshì jiànbá-nǔzhāng, suíshí kěnéng bàofā chōngtū.

The border situation between the two countries is extremely tense, with conflict liable to erupt at any moment.

HSK 7-9

他们两人剑拔弩张，谁也不肯让步。

Tāmen liǎng rén jiànbá-nǔzhāng, shuí yě bùkěn ràngbù.

The two of them faced off at daggers drawn, neither willing to back down.

memory

Picture the literal scene: 剑 (sword) drawn out (拔), crossbow (弩) fully stretched (张). Every weapon is ready to fire - pure standoff energy.

剑 jiàn

拔 bá

弩 nǔ

张 zhāng