📖 Meaning
To burn one's bridges. Committing fully to a course of action with no retreat possible.
📜 Origin Story
At the Battle of Julu, Xiang Yu ordered his troops to sink their boats and smash their cooking pots after crossing the river, leaving them only three days of food—with no retreat, they fought to victory.
💡 Example Usage
他破釜沉舟，辞职创业了。
He burned his boats—quit his job to start a business with no way back.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 破釜沉舟
- Pinyin: pò fǔ chén zhōu
- Literal Translation: break pots, sink boats
- Category: Determination
- Characters: 4