争分夺秒

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

Pinyin: zhēng fēn duó miǎo
English Translation: Racing against time (making every second count)
Idiom Composition: 「争」（To contend, strive, or fight for.）＋「分」（Minute (a unit of time).）＋「夺」（To seize, snatch, or take by force.）＋「秒」（Second (a unit of time).）
Meaning: To make use of every minute and second; to work with extreme urgency to seize every moment, especially when facing a deadline or emergency.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「争分夺秒」 contains the following nuances:

Urgency and Immediacy: Unlike a passive attitude of 'valuing time,' this idiom emphasizes an active, almost aggressive effort to 'snatch' time from the clock in high-pressure situations.
Competitive Nuance: The use of the verbs 争 (zhēng) and 夺 (duó) suggests a battle against time itself, or against rivals and disasters, highlighting a competitive spirit.
High Concentration: It implies a state of total focus where the person is not distracted by anything else, pouring all their energy into the task at hand.

3. Usage

「争分夺秒」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

Emergencies and Rescue Operations: Most frequently used in life-or-death situations like disaster relief or medical emergencies where every moment matters.
- Example:「医生们争分夺秒地抢救伤员。」
  （Doctors are racing against time to save the injured.）
Deadlines and Final Sprints: Used when a team or individual is working intensely to complete a task before a strict cutoff point.
- Example:「为了赶在截止日期前完成任务，团队成员都在争分夺秒地工作。」
  （To meet the deadline, the team members are making every second count.）
Academic Study and Research: Used to praise the diligent attitude of students or researchers who do not waste a single moment of their time.
- Example:「高三学生正在争分夺秒地复习，准备迎接高考。」
  （High school seniors are racing against the clock to review for the College Entrance Exam (高考).）

Additional Examples:

消防队员争分夺秒，终于在大火蔓延前救出了被困群众。
（Firefighters raced against time and finally rescued the trapped people before the fire spread.）
这是一场争分夺秒的比赛，谁先完成谁就是冠军。
（This is a race where you must make every second count; whoever finishes first is the winner.）
我们要争分夺秒地发展科技，才能赶超世界先进水平。
（We must race against the clock to develop technology to catch up with and surpass world standards.）
虽然离发车只有十分钟了，但他还是争分夺秒地跑向车站。
（Even though there were only ten minutes left before departure, he still raced against time to the station.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

This idiom is a relatively modern expression, reflecting the increased pace and the high value placed on efficiency in contemporary competitive society.
It is frequently used as a motivational slogan in schools, factories, or construction sites, such as 争分夺秒，大干快上 (zhēng fēn duó miǎo, dà gàn kuài shàng), which means 'Race against time and work with great vigor.'
While not an ancient fable, its spirit is often linked to the official Tao Kan (陶侃) of the Jin Dynasty (晋), who famously said that while sages cherish every 'inch' of time, ordinary people should cherish every 'minute'—a concept known as 惜分阴 (xī fēn yīn).

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

Similar Idioms:
- 分秒必争 (fēn miǎo bì zhēng): To contest every minute and second. It is nearly identical in meaning but emphasizes a firm resolve not to yield even a single moment.
- 只争朝夕 (zhī zhēng zhāo xī): To seize the day and the hour. It emphasizes making the most of the present time to achieve a goal quickly.
- 夜以继日 (yè yǐ jì rì): To work continuously day and night without rest.link
- 全力以赴 (quán lì yǐ fù): To go all out; to spare no effort.link
Opposite Idioms:
- 虚度光阴 (xū dù guāng yīn): To waste time aimlessly or to let time slip away without achieving anything.
- 拖拖拉拉 (tuō tuō lā lā): To procrastinate, dilly-dally, or be slow and inefficient in doing things.
- 得过且过 (dé guò qiě guò): To muddle through, taking one day at a time without much thought for the future.link
- 无所事事 (wú suǒ shì shì): To have nothing to do or to be idle.link

6. Summary

争分夺秒 (zhēng fēn duó miǎo) is a proactive and positive idiom used to describe situations where time is of the essence. It conveys a determined attitude to 'seize' or 'snatch' time rather than just managing it. It is frequently used in contexts such as emergency rescues, intense exam preparation, or meeting critical project deadlines.