はい
背
すい
水
　
の
じん
陣

expression, noun

Idiomatic expression.
  1. fighting with one's back to the wall, having burnt one's bridges, last stand, last-ditch effort.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
はい
背
すい
水
　
の
じん
陣
 背水の陣 はいすいのじん
はい
背
すい
水
の
之
じん
陣
 背水之陣 はいすいのじん

Contained Kanji Breakdown

stature, height, back
せ　ハイ　そむ.く (6th, N3)
north
ホク　きた　ほっ (2nd, N5)
spoon, spoon or katakana hi radical (no. 21)
ヒ　さじ (Kentei 1)
month, moon
つき　ゲツ　ガツ (1st, N5)
water
みず　スイ　み (1st, N5)
camp, battle array, ranks
ジン (Early Jr. High, N1)
car
シャ　くるま　くら (1st, N5)
span, range, extend over
わた.る　コウ　わたる (Kentei Pre-1, N1)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
daybreak, dawn, morning
タン　あき.らか　あきら (Late High School, N1)
day, sun, Japan
ひ　ニチ　にっ (1st, N5)
number one, line, rod radical (no. 2)
コン　シ　ジョ