bui3 sing4 ze3 jat1背城借一

Jyutpingbui3 sing4 ze3 jat1

Yalebui sìhng je yāt

語句

Definition

To fight to the death with one's back to the wall; to make a final, decisive stand.

writtenother

How it's used

Originating from the Zuo Zhuan, this idiom describes a situation where one has no retreat and must stake everything on a final, decisive battle. It carries a heavy, dramatic tone often reserved for high-stakes business negotiations, intense political conflicts, or desperate personal situations. Unlike everyday expressions of determination, it implies a total lack of alternatives.

Examples

min6面deoi3對ni1呢ci3次ngai4危gei1機，ngo5我dei6哋wai4唯jau5有bui3背sing4城ze3借jat1一。

Facing this crisis, we have no choice but to fight to the death.

nei5你hai6係mai6咪zan1真hai6係jiu3要bui3背sing4城ze3借jat1一，tung4同keoi5佢dei6哋dau3鬥dou3到dai2底？

Are you really going to fight to the last ditch and battle them to the end?

Common phrases

kyut3決ding6定bui3背sing4城ze3借jat1一

decide to fight to the last ditch

bei6被bik1迫bui3背sing4城ze3借jat1一

forced to make a desperate stand

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a common verb phrase, but it is a formal idiom that sounds unnatural in casual, lighthearted conversation. Using it to describe minor inconveniences or small arguments will sound overly melodramatic or sarcastic.