📖 Meaning
This idiom means to break through and destroy strong enemies or formidable forces. It conveys overwhelming might capable of shattering the firmest resistance. The phrase emphasizes not merely defeating but utterly demolishing powerful opposition.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom has no specific recorded origin in classical texts. It is formed through a parallel compound structure, pairing 破 (to break) with 摧 (to destroy) and 坚 (firm) with 刚 (hard), both pairs carrying nearly synonymous meanings. Such reduplicative constructions are common in classical Chinese to emphasize intensity. The phrase likely emerged from military contexts describing the overcoming of formidable foes. It functions primarily as a militaristic expression conveying overwhelming force against strong resistance.
💡 Example Usage
将军率精兵破坚摧刚,三日内连下敌城三座。
The general led elite troops to break through and destroy the strong enemy, capturing three enemy cities within three days.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 破坚摧刚
- Pinyin: pò jiān cuī gāng
- Literal Translation: break, firm, destroy, hard
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4