qiān千thousandjūn钧, ancient weight unitjunyī一onefà发hair
A hair's breadth; in imminent peril; a critical moment.
Literal meaning
thousand (千) — jun (钧, ancient weight unit) — one (一) — hair (发)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing a situation of extreme danger, where the outcome hangs by a thread.
Examples
Qíng情kuàng况qiān千jūn钧yí一fà发，wǒ我men们bì必xū须lì立kè刻xíng行dòng动。
The situation is critical, we must act immediately.
Zài在qiān千jūn钧yí一fà发zhī之jì际，tā他jiù救le了nà那ge个hái孩zi子。
At the critical moment, he saved the child.
Usage & nuances
Emphasizes the urgency and precariousness of a situation.
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