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退后 (tuì hòu) — to step back, to move backward; to give way, to yield

Definition

退后 (tuì hòu) is a verb-object phrase meaning to physically step back or to yield. It pairs naturally with the measure word 步, e.g. 退后一步.

verb
to step backto move backwardto give wayto yield

Examples

  • 退后。
    Qǐng dà jiā dōu tuì hòu yí bù.
    Please everyone take a step back.
  • ，退后。
    Zài bǐ sài zhōng, tā zhǔ dòng tuì hòu le.
    In the competition, he voluntarily yielded.
  • ，退后！
    Qián miàn wēi xiǎn, qǐng kuài tuì hòu!
    It's dangerous ahead, please step back quickly!

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

退tuìretreat
后hòubackward

退 means retreat and 后 gives the backward direction, so the action is to move back.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 後; 后 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 後 showed 夊 (foot) bound by 幺 (thread), a foot caught by a rope and lagging behind; the simplified 后 is a later abbreviation, and 后 also has a different meaning.

Open 后 →
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