Definition
This is a four-character idiom (chengyu) from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, referring to Guan Yu attending a meeting alone carrying only a single broadsword. It is used figuratively to describe someone boldly facing a dangerous or hostile situation alone, with courage and self-reliance. The correct pronunciation is dān dāo fù huì — the pinyin 'chán' in the source is an error (that reading belongs to 单 in the Xiongnu title 单于).
f.e.
to go alone to a meeting (especially one fraught with danger)to face a challenge or enemy single-handedly
Examples
- ，单刀赴会。Tánpàn duìshǒu hěn qiángyìng, tā juédìng chán.The negotiation opponent was very tough, so he decided to go to the meeting alone.
- ，单刀赴会，。Miànduì wēijī, tā gǎnyú chán, lìng rén pèifú.Faced with a crisis, he dared to go alone — admirable.
- ，单刀赴会。Zhè chǎng biànlùn zhǐyǒu tā yī rén dàibiǎo tuánduì, jiǎnzhí shì chán.He was the only one representing the team in this debate — it was practically a single-handed confrontation.
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