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紧锣密鼓jǐn luó mì gǔ(fig.) to urgently prepare for an upcoming event

Not on the HSK 3.0 syllabusidiom

By Chinese Copilot · Last updated

紧锣密鼓 (jǐn luó mì gǔ) means to urgently prepare for an upcoming event. Its literal image is the urgent beating of gongs and drums. Speakers can use it to describe busy, intense preparations, such as a team getting ready for a launch, a show, a wedding, or an exam that is coming soon.

What does 紧锣密鼓 mean?

  1. 1.

    (fig.) to urgently prepare for an upcoming eventidiom

  2. 2.

    (lit.) urgent beating of gongs and drums (idiom)idiom

Figurative meaning
To urgently prepare for an upcoming event.
Literal meaning
Urgent beating of gongs and drums.

What do the characters in 紧锣密鼓 mean?

  • 紧urgent
  • 锣gong
  • 密dense; close; thick
  • 鼓drum

Where does 紧锣密鼓 come from?

No attested origin story

How do you use 紧锣密鼓?

紧锣密鼓 often comes before 地 and a verb such as 准备, and can describe work in a fairly formal or news-like tone.

What are some examples of 紧锣密鼓 in a sentence?

  1. 新年晚会快到了,大家正在紧锣密鼓地准备。

    Xīnnián wǎnhuì kuài dào le, dàjiā zhèngzài jǐn luó mì gǔ de zhǔnbèi.

    The New Year party is almost here, and everyone is busily preparing.

  2. 公司正在紧锣密鼓地准备新产品。

    Gōngsī zhèngzài jǐn luó mì gǔ de zhǔnbèi xīn chǎnpǐn.

    The company is urgently preparing its new product.

  3. 考试前一周,他紧锣密鼓地复习。

    Kǎoshì qián yì zhōu, tā jǐn luó mì gǔ de fùxí.

    In the week before the exam, he reviewed intensely.

How is 紧锣密鼓 used in a conversation?

  1. Speaker A:

    你们的婚礼准备得怎么样了?

    Nǐmen de hūnlǐ zhǔnbèi de zěnmeyàng le?

    How are your wedding preparations going?

  2. Speaker B:

    我们正在紧锣密鼓地准备呢。

    Wǒmen zhèngzài jǐn luó mì gǔ de zhǔnbèi ne.

    We're preparing at full speed.

  3. Speaker A:

    需要帮忙就告诉我。

    Xūyào bāngmáng jiù gàosu wǒ.

    Tell me if you need help.

  4. Speaker B:

    太好了,谢谢你!

    Tài hǎo le, xièxie nǐ!

    Great, thank you!

Can you use 紧锣密鼓 correctly?

0 of 3 answered
  1. 1.What does 紧锣密鼓 mean figuratively?
  2. 2.Which sentence uses 紧锣密鼓 correctly?
  3. 3.Which word fits best? 演出下周开始,大家正在____地排练。 (The show starts next week, and everyone is rehearsing intensely.)

What should you learn next?

English glosses on this page are adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG (snapshot 2026-10-23), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses were edited for learners.