dāng当atjī机opportunitylì立immediatelyduàn断decide
To make a prompt decision; to decide on the spur of the moment.
Literal meaning
at (当) — opportunity (机) — immediately (立) — decide (断)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase.
Examples
Zài在jǐn紧jí急qíng情kuàng况xià下，tā他dāng当jī机lì立duàn断，cǎi采qǔ取le了zhèng正què确de的cuò措shī施。
In an emergency, he made a prompt decision and took the right measures.
Miàn面duì对tū突fā发shì事jiàn件，wǒ我men们xū需yào要dāng当jī机lì立duàn断。
We need to make prompt decisions when facing emergencies.
Usage & nuances
Implies decisiveness and quick thinking in critical situations.
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