剑拔弩张 jiàn bá nǔ zhāng

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. with swords drawn and bows bent (idiom); fig. a state of mutual hostility
  2. at daggers drawn

CHARACTERS

剑 jiàn
HSK 6
sword, dagger, saber
拔 bá
HSK 6
uproot, pull out
弩 nǔ cross-bow, bow; downward stroke
张 zhāng
HSK 3
stretch, extend, expand; sheet