📖 Meaning
Describes walking very quickly with light, rapid steps. It can also refer to a short distance that can be covered in just a few strides.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Qing dynasty novel "Guānchǎng Xiànxíng Jì" (《官场现形记》, "The Bureaucrats: A Mirror of Officialdom") by Li Baojia (李宝嘉), in Chapter 10. The original passage depicts a wife hurrying into a room with quick, nimble steps, immediately followed by her cousin Zhou Daquan (周大权) bringing in the luggage, while a maid busily set about finding a comb and washing basin for her. The phrase vividly captures the brisk, hurried gait of someone moving with urgency.
💡 Example Usage
他三脚两步赶到校门口，正好赶上放学铃声。
He hurried to the school gate in quick, light steps and just caught the dismissal bell.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 三脚两步
- Pinyin: sān jiǎo liǎng bù
- Literal Translation: three, feet, two, steps
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4