| 置之死地而后生 |
zhì zhī sǐ dì ér hòu shēng |
(idiom based on Sunzi's "The Art of War" 孙子兵法) to deploy one's troops in such a way that there is no possibility of retreat, so that they will fight for their lives and win the battle; to fight desperately when confronted with mortal danger; to find a way to emerge from a dire situation |
| 置 |
zhì |
to install / to place / to put / to buy |
| 之 |
zhī |
(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的) / him / her / it |
| 死 |
sǐ |
to die / impassable / uncrossable / inflexible / rigid / extremely / damned |
| 地 |
de |
-ly / structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct |
| 地 |
dì |
earth / ground / field / place / land / CL:片 |
| 而 |
ér |
and / as well as / and so / but (not) / yet (not) / (indicates causal relation) / (indicates change of state) / (indicates contrast) |
| 而后 |
ér hòu |
after that / then |
| 后 |
Hòu |
surname Hou |
| 后 |
hòu |
empress / queen / (archaic) monarch / ruler |
| 后 |
hòu |
back / behind / rear / afterwards / after / later / post- |
| 后生 |
hòu shēng |
young generation / youth / young man |
| 生 |
shēng |
to be born / to give birth / life / to grow / raw / uncooked / student |