万事俱备
wàn shì jù bèi
everything is ready
Character by character
万wàn
all
all
事shì
things
things
俱jù
fully
fully
备bèi
ready
ready
Example
场地、设备和演员都已到位,可谓万事俱备,只等观众进场。
The venue, the equipment and the cast are all in place: everything is ready, and we are just waiting for the audience.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
From 《三国演义》: before the battle of Red Cliffs (chapter 49), 诸葛亮 writes down for 周瑜 that all is set for a fire attack except the wind: 万事俱备,只欠东风. Used alone it means everything is ready; with 只欠东风 it points to the one thing still missing.
Learn this in Lesson 187 · HSK 7–9: 大兴机场 (Building Daxing Airport)
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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