一木难支 — “A single pillar is hard to support”
一木难支 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a single person's effort is insufficient to cope with a major crisis or maintain a large undertaking; it highlights the inadequacy of individual strength against overwhelming odds”. Literally, “A single pillar is hard to support”.
一木难支 Pronunciation and Pinyin
一木难支 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 一木难支
Origin and Story of 一木难支
During the reign of Emperor Shun of the Liu Song dynasty in the Southern Dynasties, Xiao Daocheng seized power, murdered loyal officials, acted unscrupulously, and harbored ambitions to usurp the throne.
At that time, ministers Yuan Can and Qi Dong secretly plotted to kill Xiao Daocheng. However, their plan was not kept secret and was discovered by Chu Yuan, one of Xiao Daocheng's associates, who then informed Xiao Daocheng.
Enraged, Xiao Daocheng immediately dispatched his general Dai Sengjing with a large force to attack Yuan Can, besieging his city.
At this point, Yuan Can told his son Yuan Zui, "I know full well that a single pillar cannot support the collapse of a great mansion, but for the sake of honor and integrity, I must defend it to the death."
Later, Dai Sengjing led his troops to scale the walls and stormed into the city. Under the enemy's blades and spears, Yuan Zui bravely shielded his father with his body.
Then, Yuan Can said to his son Yuan Zui, "I am a loyal minister, and you are a filial son; we die without regret." Ultimately, both father and son perished.
Idioms Related to 一木难支
More idioms starting with 一
- yī一dīng丁bù不shí识completely illiterate
- yī一dīng丁diǎn点er儿a tiny bit
- yī一bù不zuò作，，èr二bù不xiū休Finish what you start
- yī一bù不zuò做，，èr二bù不xiū休in for a penny, in for a pound
- yī一bù不yā压zhòng众，，bǎi百bù不suí随yī一The minority cannot prevail against the majority
- yī一bù不niǔ扭zhòng众One person cannot defy the crowd
- yī一shì世zhī之xióng雄A hero of a generation
- yī一shì世lóng龙mén门A generation's revered influential figure
- yī一qiū丘yī一hè壑live contentedly in nature
- yī一qiū丘zhī之hé貉birds of a feather
- yī一sī丝yī一háo毫the slightest amount
- yī一sī丝bù不luàn乱perfectly orderly and neat
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Open the tool →Questions about 一木难支
What does 一木难支 mean?
一木难支 (yī mù nán zhī) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a single person's effort is insufficient to cope with a major crisis or maintain a large undertaking; it highlights the inadequacy of individual strength against overwhelming odds”.
How do you pronounce 一木难支?
一木难支 is pronounced yī mù nán zhī in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 一木难支 literally mean?
Literally, 一木难支 means “a single pillar is hard to support”. It is used to mean “a single person's effort is insufficient to cope with a major crisis or maintain a large undertaking; it highlights the inadequacy of individual strength against overwhelming odds”.
Where does 一木难支 come from?
一木难支 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 一木难支?
大楼将要倒塌，不是一根木头能够支撑得住的。比喻一个人的力量单薄，维持不住全局。