📖 Meaning
A metaphor for accomplishing something with overwhelming ease, like using massive force against something utterly fragile. It describes a task so lopsided in one's favor that success is virtually guaranteed without any real effort.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the 'Book of Jin' (《晋书》), in the biography of Lady Yan, wife of Du Youdao. It was used to describe how a vastly superior force can easily overwhelm a weak opponent. The full original passage pairs it with another metaphor, 'pouring hot water on snow' (以汤沃雪), both illustrating effortless victory. The idiom reflects the political and military rhetoric of the Jin Dynasty era.
💡 Example Usage
我军十万对他五千，简直是排山压卵。
Our army of one hundred thousand against his mere five thousand — it's simply like pushing a mountain to crush an egg.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 排山压卵
- Pinyin: pái shān yā luǎn
- Literal Translation: push mountain, crush egg
- Category: Success
- Characters: 4