recall troops; wrap up work
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to withdraw troops; to recall soldiers; to end a battle
Originally a military term, often used in the idiom 鸣金收兵 (to sound the gong to recall troops).
Jiāng将
jūn军
jiàn见
dà大
shì势
yǐ已
qù去
，
zhǐ只
hǎo好
míng鸣
jīn金
shōu收
bīng兵
。
Seeing that the battle was lost, the general had to sound the gong to recall his troops.
Shuāng双
fāng方
jī激
zhàn战
shù数
xiǎo小
shí时
hòu后
，
jué决
dìng定
zàn暂
shí时
shōu收
bīng兵
。
After fighting intensely for several hours, both sides decided to temporarily withdraw their troops.
verb
to wind up; to call it a day; to wrap up work
Metaphorical extension meaning to finish a task. Often used in warnings against hasty completion (e.g., 不可草率收兵).
Qīng清
lǐ理
gōng工
zuò作
bù不
kě可
cǎo草
shuài率
shōu收
bīng兵
。
The cleanup work must not be concluded hastily.
Zhè这
xiàng项
rèn任
wù务
hái还
méi没
wán完
chéng成
，
wǒ我
men们
bù不
néng能
xiàn现
zài在
jiù就
shōu收
bīng兵
。
This task is not yet complete; we cannot wrap up now.
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Huì会
yì议
kāi开
dào到
yī一
bàn半
，
zhǔ主
chí持
rén人
tū突
rán然
xuān宣
bù布
shōu收
bīng兵
。
The meeting was halfway through when the host suddenly announced it was over.