一触即発

いっしょくそくはつ

Meanings

1. Noun, の-adjective critical (touch and go) situation; explosive situation

Kanji

• 一 one. Read as イチ.
• 触 touch. Read as ショク.
• 即 immediate. Read as ソク.
• 発 emit. Read as ハツ.

Example sentences

• イスラム系共和国が独立国家共同体に参加しない場合、それらの国々は独自の勢力を形成し、一触即発の民族的、宗教的な亀裂を生じかねない、とソ連、西側の消息筋は警告しています。
  Soviet and Western observers have warned that if the Muslim republics do not join the commonwealth, they may from a separate group, setting up a volatile ethnic and religious split.
• 両国は一触即発の関係にある。
  Relations between the two countries have been strained to breaking point.
• 今あの二人のなかは、まさに一触即発状態だ。
  The relationship between them is at its breaking point.

Word lists

• Yojijukugo (四字熟語)

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists