break the cauldrons and sink the boats; burn one's bridges
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesidiom
to break one's cooking pots and sink one's boats as a pledge to fight to the end
Literal historical description of an event.
Gǔ古
dài代
jiàng将
lǐng领
wèi为
le了
jī激
lì励
shì士
qì气
，
yǒu有
shí时
huì会
xiào效
fǎng仿
Xiàng项
Yǔ羽
pò破
fǔ釜
chén沉
zhōu舟
de的
cè策
luè略
。
Ancient generals sometimes emulated Xiang Yu's strategy of breaking cauldrons and sinking boats to boost morale.
idiom
to burn one's bridges; to cut off all means of retreat and determine to press ahead
Metaphorical use describing a resolute commitment with no thought of turning back.
Tā他
cí辞
diào掉
le了
wěn稳
dìng定
de的
gōng工
zuò作
，
pò破
fǔ釜
chén沉
zhōu舟
de地
qù去
chuàng创
yè业
le了
。
He quit his stable job, burning his bridges to start his own business.
Wèi为
le了
wán完
chéng成
zhè这
ge个
xiàng项
mù目
，
wǒ我
men们
bì必
xū须
yǒu有
pò破
fǔ釜
chén沉
zhōu舟
de的
jué决
xīn心
。
To complete this project, we must have the determination to burn our bridges.
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Zhè这
cì次
tán谈
pàn判
，
wǒ我
men们
yǐ已
jīng经
méi没
yǒu有
tuì退
lù路
，
zhǐ只
néng能
pò破
fǔ釜
chén沉
zhōu舟
。
In this negotiation, we have no way back and can only burn our bridges.
Pò破
fǔ釜
chén沉
zhōu舟
de的
jīng精
shén神
shì是
qǔ取
dé得
shèng胜
lì利
de的
guān关
jiàn键
。
The spirit of burning one's bridges is key to achieving victory.