剑拔弩张 Traditional 劍拔弩張 jiàn bá nǔ zhāng 🔊 lit. with swords drawn and bows bent… + Keep this word Meanings jiàn bá nǔ zhāng 劍拔弩張 lit. with swords drawn and bows bent (idiom); fig. a state of mutual hostilityat daggers drawn Its characters 剑jiàndouble-edged swordHSK 6拔báto pull upHSK 7–9弩nǔcrossbow张zhāngto open upHSK 3