千钧一发

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: qiān jūn yī fà
• English Translation: Hanging by a thread (a critical moment)
• Idiom Composition: 「千」（A thousand; used figuratively to represent a massive weight.）＋「钧」（An ancient weight unit (approx. 15kg); here it signifies a heavy burden.）＋「一」（One; a single strand.）＋「发」（Hair; representing something extremely thin and fragile.）
• Meaning: A situation as precarious as hanging a weight of a thousand jun (an ancient unit of weight) by a single strand of hair. It describes an extremely critical or dangerous moment where disaster is imminent.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「千钧一发」 contains the following nuances:

• Extreme Tension: It emphasizes an "instantaneous sense of urgency" rather than a long-term crisis. It is typically used for events that happen in a split second.
• Visual Metaphor: The contrast between the massive weight of 千钧 (qiān jūn) and the fragility of 一发 (yī fà) visually represents a state of precarious balance on the verge of collapse.

3. Usage

「千钧一发」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Emergency Situations: Used to describe dangerous moments involving life and death, such as accidents, disasters, or combat. It is often paired with terms like "moment" or "time."
  • Example:「在这千钧一发之际，消防员冲进火场救出了被困的孩子。」
    （At this critical moment, the firefighter rushed into the fire and rescued the trapped child.）
• Sports and Competitions: Used for critical moments that decide the outcome of a game or when overcoming a desperate situation.
  • Example:「守门员在千钧一发之时扑出了对方的点球，保住了胜利。」
    （The goalkeeper blocked the opponent's penalty kick at the crucial moment, securing the victory.）

Additional Examples:

1. 就在汽车快要撞上行人的千钧一发之际，司机猛踩了刹车。
   （Just as the car was about to hit the pedestrian, at the critical moment, the driver slammed on the brakes.）
2. 虽然经历了千钧一发的险情，但他最终还是化险为夷了。
   （Despite experiencing a perilous situation, he ultimately managed to turn danger into safety.）
3. 那场手术真是千钧一发，幸好医生医术高明。
   （That surgery was truly hanging by a thread, but fortunately the doctor's skills were superb.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Origin: Derived from the Book of Han (汉书) in the biography of Mei Cheng (枚乘), which describes hanging a heavy weight by a single thread.
• Weight Unit: The term 钧 (jūn) refers to an ancient unit of weight equivalent to 30 catties. A thousand 钧 (jūn) represents an immense weight.
• Nuance: While similar to 燃眉之急 (rán méi zhī jí), which emphasizes time pressure, 千钧一发 (qiān jūn yī fà) focuses on the extreme fragility and danger of the situation.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 岌岌可危 (jí jí kě wēi): Describes something in a precarious state that is about to fall or collapse.
  • 迫在眉睫 (pò zài méi jié): Describes a situation that is extremely urgent and pressing, as if it were right between one's eyebrows.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 安如磐石 (ān rú pán shí): As stable as a giant rock, not budging in the slightest.
  • 安然无恙 (ān rán wú yàng): To be safe and sound, without any mishap.

6. Summary

千钧一发 (qiān jūn yī fà) describes a situation of extreme peril or a critical turning point, similar to the English expression "hanging by a thread." It emphasizes a moment where the slightest change could lead to total disaster, often used in the context of accidents, rescues, or high-stakes competitions.