千钧一发

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: qiān jūn yí fà
• English Translation: A matter of a hair's breadth, a moment of extreme peril, hanging by a thread
• Idiom Composition: 「千」（Thousand, very many）＋「钧」（Ancient unit of weight (one jun is about 15kg)）＋「一」（One）＋「发」（A single hair）
• Meaning: To support a weight of a thousand jun (about 15,000 kilograms) with a single strand of hair. It is a metaphor for an extremely dangerous and precarious situation, on the verge of collapse.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「千钧一发」 contains the following nuances:

• Extreme danger: Describes a highly dangerous state, a situation where collapse could happen at any moment.
• Sense of urgency: Indicates an imminent crisis, a situation where there is no time to spare.
• Imminence: Accompanied by a sense of urgency that irreversible consequences will occur if immediate action is not taken.

3. Usage

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

• Describing critical situations: Used to describe highly dangerous situations or moments of imminent crisis.
  • Example:「就在这千钧一发之际，他挺身而出，挽救了局面。」
    （At this critical moment, he stepped forward and saved the situation.）
• Emphasizing tense moments: Used to emphasize tense situations or moments where a split-second decision can determine life or death.
  • Example:「在千钧一发的时刻，他做出了正确的选择。」
    （At that hair-raising moment, he made the right choice.）

Additional Examples:

1. 地震发生时，大楼摇摇欲坠，真是千钧一发。
   （When the earthquake struck, the building was on the verge of collapse; it was truly a moment of extreme peril.）
2. 汽车差点撞到行人，千钧一发之际，司机紧急刹车，避免了一场事故。
   （The car almost hit a pedestrian, but at the last moment, the driver braked hard, avoiding an accident.）
3. 在谈判的最后阶段，双方意见分歧很大，合作关系千钧一发。
   （In the final stage of negotiations, there were significant disagreements between the two sides, and the partnership was hanging by a thread.）
4. 敌人的炮火越来越猛烈，我军阵地千钧一发。
   （The enemy's artillery fire became increasingly fierce, and our army's position was in extreme peril.）
5. 登山队员遇到了雪崩，在这千钧一发的时刻，他们凭借丰富的经验成功脱险。
   （The mountaineering team encountered an avalanche, but at this critical moment, they successfully escaped danger thanks to their rich experience.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Ancient unit of weight '钧' (jūn): '钧' is an ancient Chinese unit of weight, where one jun is equivalent to thirty jin (about 15 kilograms). '千钧' (qiān jūn) thus represents about 15,000 kilograms, signifying something extremely heavy.
• Origin: This idiom originates from a metaphor used by Mei Sheng, a literati of the Former Han Dynasty, to convey the precarious political situation to the emperor. He said, 'If a single thread were to bear the weight of a thousand jun, suspended from an immeasurable height above and dangling over an unfathomable abyss below, even the most foolish person would know to lament its impending break.'
• Hyperbole: '千钧一发' is a hyperbole used to emphasize an extremely dangerous situation. It should be understood as a metaphor rather than taken literally.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 危在旦夕 (wēi zài dàn xī): Danger is imminent, on the verge of collapse.
  • 迫在眉睫 (pò zài méi jié): Imminent, pressing, just around the corner.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 高枕无忧 (gāo zhěn wú yōu): To sleep soundly without worries, a state of great safety and peace of mind.
  • 安如泰山 (ān rú tài shān): As stable as Mount Tai, extremely safe and unshakeable.

6. Summary

'千钧一发' is an idiom used to describe extremely dangerous or imminent crisis situations. Understanding its origin and background will allow for a deeper comprehension of the urgency and tension it conveys. Furthermore, learning it alongside synonyms and antonyms will broaden your range of expression.