知难而退
知难而退 (zhī nán ér tuì) literally means “know difficulty and retreat” and expresses “wise withdrawal”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: zhi nan er tui, zhi nan er tui,知难而退 meaning, 知难而退 in english
Wise withdrawal
Pronunciation: zhī nán ér tuì Literal meaning: Know difficulty and retreat
Origin & Usage
The idiom 知难而退 (zhī nán ér tuì) originates from the Spring and Autumn period, specifically from the historical text 《左传》 (Zuo Zhuan). It describes a strategic military decision during a conflict between the states of Jin and Chu. When the Jin army, led by commanders like 荀林父 (Xun Linfu), learned that the Chu had already made peace with Zheng, they debated whether to engage in battle. Despite some advocating for confrontation, others argued for retreat, recognizing the strength and discipline of the Chu forces. This decision to 'know the difficulty and retreat' (知, know; 难, difficulty; 而, and; 退, retreat) proved wise, as those who pressed on faced defeat. In modern usage, this idiom suggests the wisdom of recognizing when to withdraw from a challenging situation to avoid unnecessary loss.
Examples
English: "He wisely chose to step back when the challenges became overwhelming"
Chinese: 当困难变得无法承受时，他明智地选择了退缩
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 知难而退 mean in English?
知难而退 (zhī nán ér tuì) literally translates to “Know difficulty and retreat” and is used to express “Wise withdrawal”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 知难而退 used?
Situation: He wisely chose to step back when the challenges became overwhelming
What is the pinyin for 知难而退?
The pinyin pronunciation for 知难而退 is “zhī nán ér tuì”.