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退步 (tuì bù) — (verb) to regress, to fall behind (in one's studies, ability, performance, etc.); (verb) to make a concession, to allow room for maneuver (in negotiations or conflict)

Definition

退步 is a verb meaning 'to fall behind / regress' (performance, ability) or, in negotiations, 'to step back / make a concession' — distinct from the noun 余地 ('leeway' as available room, not the act of giving it).

verb
to regressto fall behind (in one's studies, ability, performance, etc.)to make a concessionto allow room for maneuver (in negotiations or conflict)

Examples

  • ，退步。
    Tā zuì jìn bù nǔ lì, xué xí chéng jì tuì bù le hěn duō.
    He hasn't been working hard lately, and his academic performance has regressed a lot.
  • ，。
    Jīng guò tǎo lùn, shuāng fāng gè tuì le yí bù.
    After discussion, each side took a step back.
  • ，退步。
    Zài tán pàn zhōng, wǒ men xū yào shì dàng tuì bù.
    In negotiations, we need to make appropriate concessions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

退tuìretreat
步bùstep

The 退 sense of retreating and the 步 sense of a step combine to mean a backward step.

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.

步 uses two 止 (foot) forms, one reversed, to show one foot stepping in front of the other.

Open 步 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 5Success & Failure

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