# 当机立断

dāng jī lì duàn

Make a prompt decision at the crucial moment

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Decide at the moment of opportunity

**Traditional Chinese:** 當機立斷

**Register:** Positive · conversational

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Use to praise timely decisiveness when delay would be costly.

It implies recognizing the right moment, not acting recklessly.

## Behind the words

The phrase ties decisive action to the right occasion. Traditional uses emphasize judgment that responds promptly to changing circumstances.

机 points to the crucial moment or opportunity, and 断 to deciding. The idiom praises timely judgment when delay would matter. It does not praise impulsiveness without considering available information. A decision can be fast because a person recognizes the situation clearly, especially when they have prepared for such a possibility.

## Examples

发现路线不安全，她当机立断，带大家返回。

### Traditional Chinese

發現路線不安全，她當機立斷，帶大家返回。

fā xiàn lù xiàn bù ān quán ， tā dāng jī lì duàn ， dài dà jiā fǎn huí 。

Seeing that the route was unsafe, she immediately decided to lead everyone back.

发现报名快结束了，他当机立断，提交了申请。

### Traditional Chinese

發現報名快結束了，他當機立斷，提交了申請。

fā xiàn bào míng kuài jié shù le ， tā dāng jī lì duàn ， tí jiāo le shēn qǐng 。

Seeing registration was about to close, he promptly submitted the application.

天气突然恶化，领队当机立断，取消了登山计划。

### Traditional Chinese

天氣突然惡化，領隊當機立斷，取消了登山計劃。

tiān qì tū rán è huà ， lǐng duì dāng jī lì duàn ， qǔ xiāo le dēng shān jì huà 。

When the weather deteriorated suddenly, the leader promptly canceled the climb.

面对关键机会，她当机立断，提交了申请。

### Traditional Chinese

面對關鍵機會，她當機立斷，提交了申請。

miàn duì guān jiàn jī huì ， tā dāng jī lì duàn ， tí jiāo le shēn qǐng 。

At the crucial opportunity, she made a prompt decision and submitted the application.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 4, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=771&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%95%B6%E6%A9%9F%E7%AB%8B%E6%96%B7)

## Keep exploring

- [当务之急 dāng wù zhī jí The most pressing task at present ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/dang-wu-zhi-ji)

- [倒行逆施 dào xíng nì shī Act perversely against sound principles or progress ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/dao-xing-ni-shi)

- [得不偿失 dé bù cháng shī The gain does not make up for the loss ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/de-bu-chang-shi)

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