走回头路 (zǒu huí tóu lù) — to backtrack; to retrace one's steps (literal or figurative)
Definition
Set phrase meaning 'to backtrack, to return to a previous (worse) approach'. Used figuratively for policy, decisions, or behavior — never for simply retracing literal steps.
verb
to backtrackto retrace one's steps (literal or figurative)
Examples
- 走回头路。Tā men jué dìng bú zài zǒu huí tóu lù.They decided not to backtrack again.
- ，。Zài zhè ge wèn tí shàng, wǒ men bù néng zǒu huí tóu lù.On this issue, we cannot backtrack.
- ，。Zhèng fǔ yǐ jīng zǒu guò yí cì huí tóu lù le, bù néng zài fàn tóng yàng de cuò wù.The government has backtracked once before; it cannot make the same mistake again.
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