寸步难行
寸步难行 (cùn bù nán xíng) literally means “inch step difficult to walk” and expresses “unable to move forward at all”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: cun bu nan xing, cun bu nan xing,寸步难行 meaning, 寸步难行 in english
Unable to move forward at all
Pronunciation: cùn bù nán xíng Literal meaning: Inch step difficult to walk
Origin & Usage
Unable to walk (难行) so much as an inch (寸) of a step (步). 寸步 is the smallest movement that still counts as moving, so the phrase denies not progress but motion of any kind. That is what separates it from difficulty: what is claimed is a stop rather than a struggle. Paperwork that has seized up, a project blocked at every approach, and — quite literally — crowds, mud and snow.
Examples
English: "Without proper documentation, progress was impossible."
Chinese: 没有适当的文件，工作寸步难行。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
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走马看花
zǒu mǎ kàn huā
Superficial observation without depth
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饱经沧桑
bǎo jīng cāng sāng
Weathered profound life transformations
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风土人情
fēng tǔ rén qíng
A place's environment together with its customs
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一览无余
yī lǎn wú yú
Take in everything at a glance
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安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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肝肠寸断
gān cháng cùn duàn
Extreme sorrow
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得寸进尺
dé cùn jìn chǐ
Take advantage by demanding increasingly more
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 寸步难行 mean in English?
寸步难行 (cùn bù nán xíng) literally translates to “Inch step difficult to walk” and is used to express “Unable to move forward at all”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 寸步难行 used?
Situation: Without proper documentation, progress was impossible.
What is the pinyin for 寸步难行?
The pinyin pronunciation for 寸步难行 is “cùn bù nán xíng”.