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.
  • ，走回头路。
    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.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original shape showed a running man, with a foot added later.

Open 走 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

回 comes from a drawing of a spiral, showing something turning around.

Open 回 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頭; 头 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu頭tóu
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 頭 shows 頁, meaning head, beside 豆 as a sound component; the simplified 头 is a later shorthand.

Open 头 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
足足zú
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè路lù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

路 combines 足, a foot, with 各, which supplies the sound.

Open 路 →

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