迫不及待

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: pò bù jí dài
• English Translation: Too impatient to wait / Can't wait to...
• Idiom Composition: 「迫」（Urgent, pressed, or forced by circumstances）＋「不」（Not）＋「及」（To reach or be in time for）＋「待」（To wait）
• Meaning: To be in such a hurry or so excited that one cannot wait even a moment. It describes a subjective psychological state of urgency or intense anticipation that leads to immediate action.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「迫不及待」 contains the following nuances:

• Subjective Urgency: Unlike idioms like 迫在眉睫 (pò zài méi jié), which refer to objective deadlines, this idiom focuses on the subject's internal desire or impulse to act quickly.
• Direct Link to Action: It is frequently used in contexts where the feeling leads directly to a physical action, such as 'rushing out' or 'starting to speak.'
• Structural Meaning: Literally, it means 'pressed [by urgency] and unable to wait in time.' In modern usage, it is interpreted as having no patience to delay.

3. Usage

「迫不及待」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Anticipation for something enjoyable: A very common usage describing the inability to wait for happy events, such as opening presents, going on a trip, or eating delicious food.
  • Example:「刚拿到新买的游戏机，他就迫不及待地拆开包装玩了起来。」
    （As soon as he got the new game console, he couldn't wait to tear open the packaging and start playing.）
• Sharing information or speaking out: Used when someone is dying to share good news or express their opinion as quickly as possible.
  • Example:「一听到好消息，她就迫不及待地给家人打了电话。」
    （Upon hearing the good news, she was so impatient that she immediately called her family.）
• Impatience or impulse: Describes a state where the desire to change a situation or obtain something is so strong that one cannot remain calm. This can sometimes carry a slightly critical nuance.
  • Example:「还没等对方把话说完，他就迫不及待地跳出来反驳。」
    （Before the other person could even finish, he impatiently jumped in to argue back.）

Additional Examples:

1. 孩子们迫不及待地冲向海滩。
   （The children couldn't wait to rush toward the beach.）
2. 看到这一幕，我迫不及待想知道接下来发生了什么。
   （Seeing this scene, I was dying to know what happened next.）
3. 春天刚到，花儿们就迫不及待地绽放了。
   （As soon as spring arrived, the flowers eagerly burst into bloom.）
4. 由于急于证明自己，他迫不及待地接下了这个艰巨的任务。
   （Anxious to prove himself, he impatiently took on this arduous task.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Grammar: It is most commonly used as an adverbial modifier in the form 迫不及待地 (pò bù jí dài de) + Verb. It can also serve as a predicate, such as 'His mood was 迫不及待 (pò bù jí dài).'
• Common Mistake: Avoid writing it as 急不及待. While 迫 (pò) and 急 (jí) are similar in meaning, the standard idiom is 迫不及待 (pò bù jí dài).
• Usage Range: This idiom is widely used from casual conversation to formal writing, covering everything from a child's excitement for a theme park to an adult's haste for results.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 急不可待 (jí bù kě dài): Too impatient to wait; very similar to 迫不及待 (pò bù jí dài) but often carries a stronger nuance of anxiety.
  • 刻不容缓 (kè bù róng huǎn): Not a moment to lose; emphasizes objective situational urgency rather than subjective feeling.
  • 心急如焚 (xīn jí rú fén): To be extremely anxious or worried.link
  • 按捺不住 (àn nà bù zhù): Unable to hold back or restrain oneself.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 从容不迫 (cóng róng bù pò): Calm and unhurried; showing complete composure and not rushing at all.link
  • 慢条斯理 (màn tiáo sī lǐ): Slow and deliberate; describing a very leisurely or slow pace of action or speech.

6. Summary

迫不及待 (pò bù jí dài) expresses a subjective feeling of being unable to hold back due to excitement or urgency. It can describe positive anticipation (like a child waiting for a gift) or a rushed, impulsive manner. It is most commonly used in the structure 迫不及待地 (pò bù jí dài de) followed by a verb to show someone jumping into action immediately.