快刀斩乱麻 in English kuai4 dao1 zhan3 luan4 ma2 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) quick sword cuts through tangled hemp (idiomatic expression); decisive action in a complex situation
  • cutting the Gordian knot

Simplified Characters

快 刀 斩 乱 麻

Traditional Characters

快 刀 斬 亂 麻

Pinyin

kuai4 dao1 zhan3 luan4 ma2

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

快kuai4rapid 刀dao1surname Dao 斩zhan3to behead (as form of capital punishment) 乱luan4in confusion or disorder 麻ma2variant of 麻[ma2]