📖 Meaning
A metaphor for something collapsing, failing, or coming to a complete end. It can also refer to a partnership or organization disbanding and breaking up. The imagery of extinguishing all light sources signifies the finality of an ending.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom appears in Yang Shuo's modern literary work 'Chunzi Guniang' (《春子姑娘》), where it describes the imminent collapse of the Japanese invaders during the war of resistance. The vivid image of blowing out the lamp and removing the candles represents the total extinguishing of power or existence. It has since become a colloquial expression for any venture, entity, or relationship reaching its end.
💡 Example Usage
这家百年老店经营不善，眼看就要吹灯拔蜡了。
This century-old shop has been poorly managed and is on the verge of shutting down for good.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 吹灯拔蜡
- Pinyin: chuī dēng bá là
- Literal Translation: blow out lamp, pull out candle
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4