快刀斩乱麻 kuài dāo zhǎn luàn má

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. quick sword cuts through tangled hemp (idiom); decisive action in a complex situation
  2. cutting the Gordian knot

CHARACTERS

快 kuài
HSK 2
rapid, quick, speedy, fast; soon
刀 dāo
HSK 4
knife; old coin; measure
斩 zhǎn
HSK 6
cut, chop, sever; behead
乱 luàn
HSK 4
confusion, state of chaos, revolt
麻 má
HSK 4
hemp, jute, flax; sesame