📖 Meaning
Cannot withstand a single blow; describes something so weak or fragile that it collapses at the first attack. Also used metaphorically for arguments, theories, or plans that are poorly constructed and cannot hold up under scrutiny or refutation.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom has no single definitive origin text; it is a modern Chinese expression formed from the common classical component 不堪 (cannot bear or withstand) combined with 一击 (a single blow). It gained widespread use in the 20th century in both military and intellectual contexts. The phrase appears frequently in modern literature and political commentary to criticize weak defenses, flawed reasoning, or fragile structures.
💡 Example Usage
敌军的防线不堪一击，很快就被突破了。
The enemy's defensive line could not withstand a single blow and was quickly breached.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 不堪一击
- Pinyin: bù kān yī jī
- Literal Translation: cannot bear, one, strike
- Category: Quality
- Characters: 4