一蹶不振 yī jué bù zhèn

fail and never recover after a setback

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 19260th word

Definitions

  1. 1. one stumble, unable to rise (idiom); a setback leading to total collapse
  2. 2. ruined at a stroke
  3. 3. unable to recover after a minor hitch

Characters

Character Meaning
一 yī HSK 1
one; 1; single
蹶 jué
see 尥蹶子liào juě zi; to stumble; to kick (of horse)
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
振 zhèn HSK 5
to shake; to rise up with spirit; to rouse oneself