# 穷途末路

qióng tú mò lù

Reach a desperate dead end

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** The path is exhausted and the road ends

**Traditional Chinese:** 窮途末路

**Register:** Somber · literary

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

## When to use it

Describe a course that has no viable continuation.

Often very grave; a temporary obstacle may be less final.

## Understanding the expression

The path runs out and the road offers no farther movement. The expression describes a person, organization, or approach reaching a desperate impasse. It often appears after repeated failures or exhausted resources. The sense can be more final than simply facing a difficult choice. Yet the perceived dead end may concern one method rather than every possible future. A careful sentence can identify the exhausted route while leaving room for assistance or a different direction.

## Examples

旧经营模式已到穷途末路。

### Traditional Chinese

舊經營模式已到窮途末路。

jiù jīng yíng mó shì yǐ dào qióng tú mò lù 。

The old business model has reached a dead end.

骗子穷途末路，试图逃走。

### Traditional Chinese

騙子窮途末路，試圖逃走。

piàn zi qióng tú mò lù ， shì tú táo zǒu 。

The cornered scammer tried to flee.

他以为穷途末路，援助却带来转机。

### Traditional Chinese

他以為窮途末路，援助卻帶來轉機。

tā yǐ wéi qióng tú mò lù ， yuán zhù què dài lái zhuǎn jī 。

He thought all was lost, but help changed things.

这套论证走到穷途末路。

### Traditional Chinese

這套論證走到窮途末路。

zhè tào lùn zhèng zǒu dào qióng tú mò lù 。

The argument has reached an unsustainable dead end.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%AA%AE%E9%80%94%E6%9C%AB%E8%B7%AF)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=657&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [曲突徙薪 qū tū xǐ xīn Take precautions before trouble arises ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qu-tu-xi-xin)

- [燃眉之急 rán méi zhī jí A pressing emergency ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ran-mei-zhi-ji)

- [人浮于事 rén fú yú shì Have more staff than useful work ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ren-fu-yu-shi)

- [三思而行 sān sī ér xíng Think carefully before acting ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/san-si-er-xing)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 轻描淡写 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qing-miao-dan-xie) [Next idiom 秋毫无犯 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qiu-hao-wu-fan)