快刀斷亂麻 kuài dāo duàn 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
斷 duàn sever, cut off; interrupt
亂 luàn confusion, state of chaos; create chaos, revolt
麻 má
HSK 4
hemp, jute, flax; sesame