得寸进尺
得寸进尺 (dé cùn jìn chǐ) literally means “gain inch advance foot” and expresses “take advantage by demanding increasingly more”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: de cun jin chi, de cun jin chi,得寸进尺 meaning, 得寸进尺 in english
Take advantage by demanding increasingly more
Pronunciation: dé cùn jìn chǐ Literal meaning: Gain inch advance foot
Origin & Usage
This excessive demand idiom describes gaining an inch (寸) then advancing to demand a foot (尺), originating from Han Dynasty negotiation terminology regarding treaty violations. It first documented how defeated states would make escalating demands after initial concessions, testing victors' resolve. During the Tang Dynasty, it entered domestic contexts describing manipulative interpersonal behavior. The measurement metaphor was particularly concrete—sequential Chinese length units (寸/inch then 尺/foot) created perfect escalation imagery. Unlike terms simply meaning 'greedy,' it specifically addresses strategic incremental escalation rather than general acquisitiveness. The character structure creates tactical progression: '得' establishes initial acquisition, '寸' identifies the small initial gain, '进' introduces forward movement, while '尺' represents the disproportionately larger demand following. Modern usage spans diplomatic negotiation to interpersonal boundaries, describing behavior patterns where initial reasonableness masks long-term expansive intentions, particularly when early compliance strategically enables increasingly unreasonable subsequent demands through psychological commitment mechanisms.
When to Use
Situation: After the small concession was granted, he immediately demanded much more
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 得寸进尺 mean in English?
得寸进尺 (dé cùn jìn chǐ) literally translates to “Gain inch advance foot” and is used to express “Take advantage by demanding increasingly more”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 得寸进尺 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving take advantage by demanding increasingly more.
What is the pinyin for 得寸进尺?
The pinyin pronunciation for 得寸进尺 is “dé cùn jìn chǐ”.