📖 Meaning
Literally meaning 'morally there is no turning back,' this idiom describes a situation where one is morally obligated to press forward with courage and determination. It conveys that righteousness demands perseverance, making retreat impossible.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Book of Jin (晋书), in the biography of Wen Qiao (温峤). During the Eastern Jin dynasty, Wen Qiao found himself in a perilous political and military situation where retreating was not an option. He compared his predicament to riding a fierce beast—one cannot simply dismount mid-ride. The phrase captures the moral imperative to forge ahead when circumstances demand it, as turning back would be both dishonorable and impractical.
💡 Example Usage
国家存亡之际，将士们义无旋踵，誓死保卫疆土。
At the moment of national survival, the soldiers pressed forward without retreat, vowing to defend the territory to the death.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 义无旋踵
- Pinyin: yì wú xuán zhǒng
- Literal Translation: righteousness, no, turn, heel
- Category: Determination
- Characters: 4