Transition-metal-catalyzed　direct　inert　C-H　bond　functionalization　has　attracted　much　attention　over　the　past　decades.　However,　because　of　the　high　strain　energy　of　the　suspected　palladacycle　generated　via　C-H　bond　palladation,　direct　functionalization　of　a　C-H　bond　less　than　a　three-bond　distance　from　a　catalyst　center　is　highly　challenging.　In　this　short　review,　we　summarize　the　advances　on　palladium-catalyzed　bridging　C-H　activation,　in　which　an　inert　proximal　C-H　bond　palladation　is　promoted　by　the　elementary　step　of　migratory　insertion　of　an　alkene,　an　alkyne　or　a　metal　carbene　intermediate.　1　Introduction　2　Palladium-Catalyzed　Alkene　Bridging　C-H　Activation　2.1　Intramolecular　Reactions　2.2　Intermolecular　Reactions　3　Palladium-Catalyzed　Alkyne　Bridging　C-H　Activation　3.1　Intermolecular　Reactions　3.2　Intramolecular　Reactions　4　Palladium-Catalyzed　Carbene　Bridging　C-H　Activation　5　Conclusion　and　Outlook.　©　2020　BMJ　Publishing　Group.　All　rights　reserved.