走投无路

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: zǒu tóu wú lù
• English Translation: No way out, trapped, at one's wit's end, with nowhere to turn
• Idiom Composition: 「走」（To go, to flee）＋「投」（To throw oneself, to proceed）＋「无」（None, without）＋「路」（Road, path）
• Meaning: Being trapped with no way to go or escape, pushed into a helpless situation. It is used both literally, when there is physically no place to go, and figuratively, when there are no means to solve a problem and one is in a desperate situation.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「走投无路」 contains the following nuances:

• Desperate situation: Describes a situation where one is completely cornered with no solutions or escape routes.
• Lack of options: Indicates a situation where no action can improve the circumstances, or all choices lead to negative outcomes.
• Sense of urgency: Can also express being cornered under imminent crisis or time constraints.
• Mental entrapment: Can describe not only physical entrapment but also mental distress and despair.

3. Usage

「走投无路」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing difficult situations: Used to describe various difficult situations such as financial hardship, broken relationships, or involvement in crime.
  • Example:「由于公司经营不善，他现在走投无路，只能宣布破产。」
    （Due to poor company management, he is now at his wit's end and can only declare bankruptcy.）
• Describing urgent situations: Used to describe situations where one is cornered under time pressure, such as in war, disasters, or pursuit.
  • Example:「面对敌人的围追堵截，游击队员们走投无路，只能选择突围。」
    （Facing the enemy's encirclement and pursuit, the guerrilla fighters were trapped with no way out and had to break through.）
• Expressing mental state: Used to express mental states of despair, loneliness, and helplessness.
  • Example:「他因为赌博欠下巨债，现在走投无路，只能求助于亲朋好友。」
    （He accumulated huge gambling debts and is now at his wit's end, having no choice but to seek help from relatives and friends.）

Additional Examples:

1. 在这场辩论中，对方辩手被逼得走投无路，无法自圆其说。
   （In this debate, the opposing speaker was cornered with no way out and could not explain coherently.）
2. 面对日益严峻的就业形势，许多毕业生感到走投无路，压力山大。
   （Facing the increasingly severe employment situation, many graduates feel trapped with no way out and under great pressure.）
3. 被困在沙漠中，缺水缺粮，我们真是走投无路了。
   （Trapped in the desert without water or food, we were truly at our wit's end.）
4. 他被逼得走投无路，最后选择了自杀。
   （He was cornered with no way out and ultimately chose to commit suicide.）
5. 当你感到走投无路的时候，不妨向朋友倾诉一下，也许他们能给你一些帮助。
   （When you feel at your wit's end, try confiding in friends; they might be able to help you.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The characters '走' and '投': '走' generally means 'to walk' or 'to run,' but here it strongly implies 'to flee.' '投' can mean 'to throw,' but also 'to throw oneself' or 'to proceed,' referring here to having no place to go.
• Figurative usage: This idiom is widely used not only when there is literally no path but also figuratively to describe desperate situations where there are no means to solve problems.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 穷途末路 (qióng tú mò lù): A dead end, the last path.
  • 山穷水尽 (shān qióng shuǐ jìn): Mountains end and rivers run dry; completely blocked from all sides.
  • 无路可走 (wú lù kě zǒu): No way to go.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 柳暗花明 (liǔ àn huā míng): The view brightens and hope appears.
  • 绝处逢生 (jué chù féng shēng): Finding a way out in a desperate situation.
  • 峰回路转 (fēng huí lù zhuǎn): The mountain path twists and turns, and the situation improves.

6. Summary

'走投无路' is a very strong expression describing being physically or mentally cornered in a desperate situation. When using this idiom, it is important to judge from the context whether the situation is truly as severe as having no way out. Additionally, since '路' (road) in Chinese can symbolize life or fate, understanding this cultural background is also important when using this idiom.