快刀断乱麻 in English kuai4 dao1 duan4 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 断 乱 麻

Traditional Characters

快 刀 斷 亂 麻

Pinyin

kuai4 dao1 duan4 luan4 ma2

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

快kuai4rapid 刀dao1surname Dao 断duan4to break 乱luan4in confusion or disorder 麻ma2variant of 麻[ma2]