弹尽粮绝
dàn jìn liáng jué
out of ammunition and food; at the end of one’s resources
Character by character
弹dàn
ammunition
ammunition
尽jìn
used up
used up
粮liáng
grain
grain
绝jué
cut off
cut off
Example
创业第三年，公司几乎弹尽粮绝，幸亏拿到了一笔投资。
In its third year the start-up had all but run out of money, and was saved only by a round of investment.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Read 弹 as dàn (bullet), not tán (to play). Said of a besieged garrison, and humorously of anyone who has run out of money or supplies: 月底我已经弹尽粮绝了 (by the end of the month I am skint).
Learn this in Lesson 204 · HSK 7–9: 雅克萨与尼布楚 (Albazin and Nerchinsk)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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