脚踏两船
脚踏两船 (jiǎo tà liǎng chuán) literally means “one foot in two boats” and expresses “indecision, double-dealing”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: jiao ta liang chuan, jiao ta liang chuan,脚踏两船 meaning, 脚踏两船 in english
Indecision, double-dealing
Pronunciation: jiǎo tà liǎng chuán Literal meaning: One foot in two boats
Origin & Usage
A foot (脚) planted (踏) in two (两) boats (船) — usually said in full as 脚踏两只船. The image does its own arguing: the position is possible only while the boats stay together, and boats do not. Chinese uses it in two settled contexts, the person hedging between two employers or factions, and the person conducting two romances at once, where it is the ordinary way of putting the accusation. In both, the prediction is the same, and it is about physics rather than morality.
Examples
English: "He is trying to maintain relationships with both sides, which is causing confusion."
Chinese: 他脚踏两船，导致了许多误会。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
脚踏实地
jiǎo tà shí dì
Being practical and down-to-earth
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举棋不定
jǔ qí bù dìng
Indecisive hesitation
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朝三暮四
zhāo sān mù sì
Fickle and inconsistent
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顾此失彼
gù cǐ shī bǐ
Unable to cover everything at once
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好高骛远
hào gāo wù yuǎn
Unrealistic aspirations
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居功自傲
jū gōng zì ào
Conceited about one's own merits
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忘乎所以
wàng hū suǒ yǐ
Carried away by success
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大快人心
dà kuài rén xīn
Satisfaction at a wrong being punished
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 脚踏两船 mean in English?
脚踏两船 (jiǎo tà liǎng chuán) literally translates to “One foot in two boats” and is used to express “Indecision, double-dealing”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 脚踏两船 used?
Situation: He is trying to maintain relationships with both sides, which is causing confusion.
What is the pinyin for 脚踏两船?
The pinyin pronunciation for 脚踏两船 is “jiǎo tà liǎng chuán”.