How do you pronounce 背城借一?

背城借一 is pronounced bèi chéng jiè yī in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 背城借一 literally mean?

Literally, 背城借一 means “with one's back to the city, relying on one final fight”. It is used to mean “to fight a desperate battle with no way of retreat”.

Where does 背城借一 come from?

背城借一 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.

What is the Chinese definition of 背城借一?

背：背向；借：凭借；一：一战。在自己城下和敌人决一死战。多指决定存亡的最后一战。

背城借一 — “To fight a desperate battle with no way of retreat”

背城借一 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to fight a desperate battle with no way of retreat”. To make a last-ditch stand; to stake everything on one decisive battle. Literally, “With one's back to the city, relying on one final fight”.

Frequency

背城借一 Pronunciation and Pinyin

背bèi
城chéng
借jiè
一yī

背城借一 Character Breakdown

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
背	bèi	9	back, carry, recite, violate
城	chéng	9	city or fortified wall
借	jiè	10	borrow, lend, or make use of
一	yī	1	one, a, single, whole

Example Sentence with 背城借一

面对前所未有的挑战，团队决定背城借一，集中所有资源争取最后的胜利。

Faced with unprecedented challenges, the team decided to make a last-ditch stand, pooling all resources to strive for ultimate victory.

Origin and Story of 背城借一

During the Spring and Autumn period, the states of Jin, Lu, and Wei, under the command of Jin's general Xi Ke, defeated the attacking Qi army. Duke Qing of Qi then sent his minister Guo Zuo to Jin to seek peace.

Xi Ke seized the opportunity to demand many harsh conditions. Guo Zuo sternly replied, "If Jin truly desires peace talks, Qi is willing to offer precious jade and return the lands belonging to Lu and Wei. If these terms are used as a pretense to extort more, our state will have no choice but to '背城借一' (fight a desperate battle with our backs to the wall)."

Generals Sun Xingfu and Sun Liangfu of Lu and Wei advised Xi Ke from the side. Xi Ke finally agreed to Qi's requests and signed the peace treaty.

The idiom is also written as "背城一战" (bèi chéng yī zhàn). In "Eastern Zhou Kingdoms" (Chapter 20) by Yu Shaoyu of the Ming Dynasty, it states: "Prince Hua, young and vigorous, requested to '背城一战' (make a desperate stand with our backs to the city)."

Idioms Related to 背城借一

Synonyms of 背城借一

Antonyms of 背城借一

chóng重zhěng整qí旗gǔ鼓regroup and make a comeback

More idioms starting with 背

Questions about 背城借一

What does 背城借一 mean?: 背城借一 (bèi chéng jiè yī) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to fight a desperate battle with no way of retreat”.
How do you pronounce 背城借一?: 背城借一 is pronounced bèi chéng jiè yī in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 背城借一 literally mean?: Literally, 背城借一 means “with one's back to the city, relying on one final fight”. It is used to mean “to fight a desperate battle with no way of retreat”.
Where does 背城借一 come from?: 背城借一 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 背城借一?: 背：背向；借：凭借；一：一战。在自己城下和敌人决一死战。多指决定存亡的最后一战。

Copy the pinyin for 背城借一 →Choose tone marks or tone numbers and copy the complete four-character reading.Read Chinese vocabulary and idiom guides →Continue with words, phrases, and idioms explained through natural examples.