What does 危在旦夕 mean?

危在旦夕 (wēi zài dàn xī) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “in imminent peril”.

How do you pronounce 危在旦夕?

危在旦夕 is pronounced wēi zài dàn xī in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 危在旦夕 literally mean?

Literally, 危在旦夕 means “Danger in the morning and evening; danger at dawn and dusk”. It is used to mean “in imminent peril”.

Where does 危在旦夕 come from?

危在旦夕 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.

What is the Chinese definition of 危在旦夕?

旦夕：早晨和晚上，形容时间短。形容危险就在眼前。

危在旦夕 — “In imminent peril”

危在旦夕 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “in imminent peril”. On the verge of collapse; hanging by a thread. Literally, “Danger in the morning and evening; danger at dawn and dusk”.

Frequency

危在旦夕 Pronunciation and Pinyin

危wēi
在zài
旦dàn
夕xī

危在旦夕 Character Breakdown

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
危	wēi	6	dangerous, in peril
在	zài	6	to be at or in
旦	dàn	5	dawn, day, female role
夕	xī	3	dusk or evening

Example Sentence with 危在旦夕

这栋老旧的建筑年久失修，已经危在旦夕，随时可能坍塌。

This old building has been neglected for years and is now in imminent danger of collapse at any moment.

Origin and Story of 危在旦夕

Towards the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Jiao's peasant rebel army besieged Duchang, where Kong Rong's troops were stationed. Kong Rong dispatched Taishi Ci to invite Liu Bei, the Chancellor of Pingyuan, to send reinforcements.

Upon arriving in Pingyuan, Taishi Ci told Liu Bei that Kong Rong was in imminent peril and desperately hoped for military assistance to lift the siege.

Liu Bei immediately sent 3,000 elite soldiers with Taishi Ci.

Seeing the reinforcements arrive, the rebel army promptly lifted the siege on Duchang.

Idioms Related to 危在旦夕

Synonyms of 危在旦夕

Antonyms of 危在旦夕

ān安rú如pán磐shí石stable and secure as a solid rock

More idioms starting with 危

Questions about 危在旦夕

What does 危在旦夕 mean?: 危在旦夕 (wēi zài dàn xī) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “in imminent peril”.
How do you pronounce 危在旦夕?: 危在旦夕 is pronounced wēi zài dàn xī in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 危在旦夕 literally mean?: Literally, 危在旦夕 means “Danger in the morning and evening; danger at dawn and dusk”. It is used to mean “in imminent peril”.
Where does 危在旦夕 come from?: 危在旦夕 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 危在旦夕?: 旦夕：早晨和晚上，形容时间短。形容危险就在眼前。

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