投笔从戎 tóu bǐ cóng róng

DEFINITIONS

  1. to lay down the pen and take up the sword (idiom)
  2. to join the military (esp. of educated person)

CHARACTERS

投 tóu
HSK 5
throw, cast, fling, pitch; jump
笔 bǐ
HSK 2
writing brush; write; stroke
从 cóng
HSK 2
from, by, since, whence, through
戎 róng arms, armaments; military affair