急流勇退
急流勇退 (jí liú yǒng tuì) literally means “brave retreat from rapid current” and expresses “retire at the peak; know when to quit”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: ji liu yong tui, ji liu yong tui,急流勇退 meaning, 急流勇退 in english
Retire at the peak; know when to quit
Pronunciation: jí liú yǒng tuì Literal meaning: Brave retreat from rapid current
Origin & Usage
To pull out (退) bravely (勇) while the current (流) is still running fast (急). The image is a boatman who turns for the bank at the point where everything is going well, and 勇 is the load-bearing character — the phrase insists that leaving takes more nerve than staying. That is the whole argument. Somebody who retired at the top, sold before the peak, or stood down while they were still being asked to stay — and it is unmixed admiration.
Examples
English: "He wisely left the company at the height of success."
Chinese: 他明智地在事业巅峰急流勇退。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
急流勇进
jí liú yǒng jìn
Advance boldly through difficulty
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天外有天
tiān wài yǒu tiān
Always someone better
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三省吾身
sān xǐng wú shēn
Self-reflect daily
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庖丁解牛
páo dīng jiě niú
Effortless skill through perfect practice
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实事求是
shí shì qiú shì
Judge by evidence, not doctrine
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欲速不达
yù sù bù dá
Haste makes waste; more haste less speed
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急于求成
jí yú qiú chéng
Be impatient for success; rush things
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功成身退
gōng chéng shēn tuì
Retire after achieving success
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 急流勇退 mean in English?
急流勇退 (jí liú yǒng tuì) literally translates to “Brave retreat from rapid current” and is used to express “Retire at the peak; know when to quit”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 急流勇退 used?
Situation: He wisely left the company at the height of success.
What is the pinyin for 急流勇退?
The pinyin pronunciation for 急流勇退 is “jí liú yǒng tuì”.