To burn one's boats; to commit irrevocably; to show determination to fight to the finish with no retreat.
为了完成这项艰巨的任务，大家决定沉舟破釜，不达目的誓不罢休。
To complete this arduous task, everyone decided to sink their boats and smash their cauldrons, vowing not to give up until the goal is achieved.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
At the end of the Qin Dynasty, King Qin dispatched General Zhang Han with 200,000 troops to attack the state of Zhao. King Zhao sent envoys to request aid from King Chu.
King Chu appointed Song Yi as the commander and Xiang Yu as his deputy to lead the relief army. Song Yi deliberately delayed the advance.
Xiang Yu, impatient with the delay, killed Song Yi and then led his army across the Zhang River to assist Zhao. They smashed their cooking pots and sank their boats in the river, demonstrating their resolve for a do-or-die battle.
Ultimately, they defeated the Qin army.
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