bing1 lam4 sing4 haa6兵臨城下兵临城下
Jyutpingbing1 lam4 sing4 haa6
Yalebīng làhm sìhng hah
Definition
An enemy army arriving at the city gates, about to attack; an extremely critical situation.
- to have the enemy army at the city gates, poised to attack
- figurativeto face an extremely critical, pressing situation
neutralother
How it's used
Used primarily as a metaphor for a situation that has reached a critical, make or break point. While it originates from military history, it is frequently applied to business, personal crises, or project deadlines where time has run out and immediate action is required. It carries a sense of impending doom or extreme urgency that leaves no room for hesitation.
Examples
The enemy is already at the gates, what other way do we have to hold the city?
The company is facing bankruptcy, it is as critical as an army at the gates.
Related words
Common phrases
the situation is critical
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
