单枪匹马

dān qiāng pǐ mǎ

single-handed; on your own

Character by character

单dān
lone

枪qiāng
spear

匹pǐ
single

马mǎ
horse

他单枪匹马来到上海创业。

He came to Shanghai to start a business all on his own.

Tone: neutral.

Admiring or neutral; 匹 is the measure word for horses.

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