迫不及待
pò bù jí dài
Extreme impatience
Feeling an overwhelming urge to do something immediately, without being able to wait any longer. It describes a state of extreme eagerness or impatience, where one simply cannot delay.
What does 迫不及待 (pò bù jí dài) mean?
迫不及待 (pò bù jí dài) means "extreme impatience" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "compelled not to wait."
Character by character
- 迫 pò compel, force, urgent
- 不 bù not, no
- 及 jí reach, come up to, in time for
- 待 dài wait, treat
When to use it
Expresses a strong, often uncontrollable, desire to act or experience something right away. It can be used for both positive anticipation, like waiting for a trip, and negative urgency, such as needing to escape a situation. The phrase conveys a sense of being unable to delay.
Example
他那迫不及待的样子，引起了一阵哄堂大笑。
Tā nà pò bù jí dài de yàngzi, yǐnqǐ le yízhèn hōngtángdàxiào.
His impatient demeanor provoked a burst of laughter from the whole room.
Pro tip: The idiom often describes a physical manifestation of impatience, such as fidgeting, rushing, or immediately taking action, rather than merely an internal feeling.
Related idioms
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