四面楚歌sì miàn chǔ gēsurrounded by enemies, isolated and without help

1. 1.

   surrounded by enemies, isolated and without helpidiom

Figurative meaning

Surrounded by enemies, isolated and without help.

Literal meaning

On all sides, the songs of Chu.

• 四four
• 面side
• 楚Chinese kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (722–221 BC)
• 歌song

The story

At night Xiang Yu heard the Han army singing Chu songs on all four sides, and he was greatly alarmed, asking whether Han had already taken all of Chu.

四面楚歌 can describe a difficult situation where help is nowhere to be found.

1. HSK 3

   他没有朋友帮助，现在四面楚歌。

   Tā méiyǒu péngyou bāngzhù, xiànzài sì miàn chǔ gē.

   He has no friends to help him, and now he is isolated and without help.

2. HSK 4

   公司现在四面楚歌，没有人支持我们。

   Gōngsī xiànzài sì miàn chǔ gē, méiyǒu rén zhīchí wǒmen.

   The company is now surrounded on all sides, and no one supports us.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   你最近工作怎么样？

   Nǐ zuìjìn gōngzuò zěnmeyàng?

   How's work lately?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   不太好，问题越来越多。

   Bú tài hǎo, wèntí yuèláiyuè duō.

   Not great. There are more and more problems.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   没有人帮你吗？

   Méiyǒu rén bāng nǐ ma?

   Isn't anyone helping you?

4. 
   Speaker B:

   没有，我感觉四面楚歌。

   Méiyǒu, wǒ gǎnjué sì miàn chǔ gē.

   No. I feel surrounded on all sides with no help.

1. 1.What does 四面楚歌 mean?

   ASurrounded by enemies, isolated and without helpBSinging songs with friendsCTraveling in four directions
2. 2.Which sentence uses 四面楚歌 correctly?

   A他没有朋友帮助，现在四面楚歌。B这首歌很四面楚歌。C我们四面楚歌地吃饭。
3. 3.Which word fits best? 没有人支持他，他现在____。 (No one supports him; he is now isolated and without help.)

   A四面楚歌B马到成功C画龙点睛

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