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进退 (jìn tuì) — to advance and retreat (literally); to decide whether to stay or leave a job/position (figuratively)

Definition

Used almost entirely in set phrases like 进退两难 (dilemma) and 进退自如 (advance and retreat freely). The plain literal sense 'to advance or retreat' is rare; learners will meet it as part of these idioms.

verb
to advance and retreat (literally)to decide whether to stay or leave a job/position (figuratively)

Examples

  • 。
    Jūn duì zài zhàn chǎng shàng jìn tuì zì rú.
    The army advances and retreats freely on the battlefield.
  • ，。
    Tā mù qián jìn tuì liǎng nán, bù zhī dào gāi rú hé xuǎn zé.
    He is currently in a dilemma, not knowing how to choose.
  • 进退。
    Tā hěn nán jué dìng shì jìn tuì hái shì děng dài.
    He finds it hard to decide whether to advance/retreat or wait.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 進; 进 is its simplified writing.

  • 辵辵chuòwalk
  • 隹隹zhuīshort-tail bird

The traditional form 進 pairs 辵 (walk) with 隹 (short-tail bird): the picture showed moving forward because a bird can only walk forward, not backward. The simplified 进 is a later shorthand.

Open 进 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 皀皀jífood vessel
  • 夊夊suīdownward foot

退 originally showed 皀, a food vessel, with 夊, a downward foot, for leaving the table after eating. In modern 退, the vessel part 皀 changed into an unrelated shape.

Open 退 →
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