Chinese idiom · 成语
枕戈待旦
Meaning
To sleep with a spear, awaiting dawn; readiness for battle.
Character by character
Origin and story
Historical accountSun Sheng's Jin Yang Qiu, quoted in commentary to the Shishuo Xinyu, preserves words attributed to Liu Kun in a letter to relatives or old friends. Liu says he rests with his weapon while awaiting dawn, eager to fight for the Jin cause, and worries that his friend Zu Ti will get ahead of him. A parallel account appears in Liu Kun's Book of Jin biography.
The weapon and the sleepless anticipation express urgent readiness during a time of conflict. The idiom later extends to sustained vigilance before a demanding undertaking. Its force is stronger than simply preparing well: the person remains alert and ready to act.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
台风将至，抢修队枕戈待旦，随时准备处理断电事故。
With the typhoon approaching, the repair crews stayed on full alert, ready to respond to power failures.
Strong, formal language for vigilant readiness; modern use need not involve actual weapons.