龟缩 (guī suō) — to hole up; to withdraw into a defensive position (like a turtle pulling into its shell)

Definition

Literally 'turtle-shrinking' (a turtle withdrawing into its shell): to cower or hide defensively, often in an exaggerated, cowardly way. Carries a strongly negative tone — not a neutral 'stay home'.

verb
to hole upto withdraw into a defensive position (like a turtle pulling into its shell)

Examples

  • 龟缩裡，。
    Dí jūn yǐ jīng guī suō zài chéng lǐ, bù gǎn chū lái le.
    The enemy has holed up in the city and doesn't dare come out.
  • 龟缩，。
    Yù dào kùn nan bù néng zǒng shì yí wèi dì guī suō, yào yǒng gǎn miàn duì.
    When you encounter difficulties, you can't just hole up all the time; you must face them bravely.
  • 龟缩，。
    Zhè duàn shí jiān tā yì zhí guī suō zài jiā lǐ, shuí yě bú jiàn.
    During this time, he has been holed up at home, not seeing anyone.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

龟guīturtle
缩suōwithdraw

龟缩 pictures a turtle withdrawing into its shell.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 龜; 龟 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 龜 came from a drawing of a turtle seen from the side and above; the simplified 龟 is a later abbreviation.

Open 龟 →

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 縮; 缩 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìstring, thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
宿
宿sù縮suō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 縮 pairs 糸 (string, thread) with 宿, which gives the sound; the simplified 缩 is a shorthand.

Open 缩 →

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