铤而走险
tǐng ér zǒu xiǎn
to take a desperate risk; to risk breaking the law
Character by character
铤tǐng
rush
rush
而ér
and
and
走zǒu
run to
run to
险xiǎn
danger
danger
Example
他欠了别人很多钱，走投无路之下铤而走险，抢了一家便利店。
He owed people a great deal of money, and with nowhere left to turn he took the desperate step of robbing a convenience store.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
From 《左传》 (铤而走险，急何能择): 铤 (tǐng, not dìng) means running fast, like a cornered deer bolting down a dangerous path. Said of people driven by desperation or greed to do something dangerous or illegal; often after 不惜, 竟然 or 走投无路之下.
Learn this in Lesson 188 · HSK 7–9: P2P的兴衰 (The rise and fall of P2P lending)
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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