剑拔弩张 in English jian4 ba2 nu3 zhang1 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) with swords drawn and bows bent (idiomatic expression); metaphorically a state of mutual hostility
  • at daggers drawn

Simplified Characters

剑 拔 弩 张

Traditional Characters

劍 拔 弩 張

Pinyin

jian4 ba2 nu3 zhang1

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

剑jian4double-edged sword 拔ba2to pull up 弩nu3crossbow 张zhang1surname Zhang