每天成语
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退避三舍

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: tuì bì sān shè
  • English Translation: Retreating ninety li (giving way to avoid conflict)
  • Idiom Composition: 「退」（To retreat or move backward）＋「避」（To avoid or evade）＋「三」（Three (a specific count)）＋「舍」（An ancient unit of distance (one 'she' equals thirty 'li', roughly 15 kilometers)）
  • Meaning: To proactively yield or keep one's distance from someone to avoid conflict or confrontation. While it originally referred to a strategic retreat to honor a promise, in modern usage, it often describes avoiding someone troublesome or being intimidated by a superior force.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「退避三舍」 contains the following nuances:

  • The Distance of 'Three She': In ancient Chinese military terms, one 舍 (shè) represented a distance of thirty 里 (lǐ). Therefore, 'Three She' equals ninety 里 (lǐ), which is approximately 45 kilometers. This represents a significant and deliberate retreat to show sincerity or avoid a fight.
  • Modern Nuance: While the original story emphasized keeping a promise and showing gratitude, modern usage focuses more on the act of avoidance. It is often used when someone wants to stay away from a 'headache' or a person who is too difficult to deal with.

3. Usage

「退避三舍」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Avoiding Trouble: Used as a life strategy to avoid unnecessary conflict with unreasonable or difficult people.
    • Example:「遇到这种不讲理的人，我通常是退避三舍，不跟他一般见识。」
      （When I encounter such unreasonable people, I usually keep my distance and don't stoop to their level.)
  • Overwhelming Strength: Used when one is forced to yield because the opponent's power or momentum is far superior.
    • Example:「面对卫冕冠军的强大攻势，其他选手不得不退避三舍。」
      （Faced with the defending champion's powerful offensive, the other players had no choice but to give way.)
  • Humility or Respect: A more formal usage indicating that one defers to another's superior knowledge or status.
    • Example:「论学识和经验，我对他都要退避三舍。」
      （In terms of knowledge and experience, I must defer to him.)

Additional Examples:

  1. 看到老板今天心情不好，大家都退避三舍，不敢大声说话。
    （Seeing that the boss was in a bad mood today, everyone steered clear and didn't dare to speak loudly.）
  2. 对于这种高风险的投资项目，大多数投资者都选择了退避三舍。
    （Regarding such high-risk investment projects, most investors chose to stay away.）
  3. 他那咄咄逼人的气势让人不得不退避三舍。
    （His aggressive manner makes people feel they have to shrink back.）
  4. 虽然我很想帮忙，但这件事太复杂，我只能退避三舍了。
    （Although I really want to help, this matter is too complicated, so I have no choice but to bow out.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Origin: This idiom comes from the Zuo Zhuan (左传), specifically the 23rd year of Duke Xi. During his exile, the prince Chong'er (重耳), who later became Duke Wen of Jin (晋文公), was treated with great hospitality by King Cheng of Chu (楚成王).
  • The Promise: When asked how he would repay the kindness, Chong'er promised that if their two armies ever met in battle, he would retreat 'Three She' (90 li) as a sign of respect and gratitude.
  • Strategic Outcome: Years later, during the Battle of Chengpu (城濮之战), Duke Wen of Jin fulfilled this promise. While it appeared to be a gesture of honor, it also served as a strategic retreat that lured the Chu army into a vulnerable position, leading to a decisive victory for the Jin army.
  • Usage: Today, it is a versatile phrase used in everything from daily conversation to news reports to describe avoiding a confrontation or yielding to a superior force.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

The idiom 退避三舍 (tuì bì sān shè) is used to describe the act of giving way or keeping a distance to avoid a clash. Originating from a historical story involving Duke Wen of Jin (晋文公), the phrase has shifted from its literal military meaning of retreating a specific distance to a broader social context. It can be used positively to describe a wise avoidance of trouble, or more neutrally to describe being overwhelmed by someone else's power or presence.

Featured in the Chuken exam (Japan's Chinese test)Pre-Level 1

Idiom Essay

tuì bì sān shè
退避三舍
Stepping Back to Avoid Conflict
shēng huó生活zhōng中，dāng当miàn duì面对chōng tū冲突huò zhě或者qiáng shì强势de的duì shǒu对手shí时，wǒ men我们tōng cháng通常huì会zěn me怎么zuò做？

In life, how do we usually react when facing conflict or a powerful opponent?

dà bù fèn大部分rén人de的běn néng本能fǎn yìng反应shì是yíng迎shàng qù上去，jù lǐ lì zhēng据理力争，bù xiǎng不想ràng让zì jǐ自己xiǎn de显得ruǎn ruò软弱。

Most people's instinct is to confront it and argue their point, not wanting to appear weak.

dàn但yǒu shí hòu有时候，zuì hǎo最好de的yìng duì应对fāng shì方式，fǎn ér反而shì是zhǔ dòng主动hòu tuì后退，lā kāi拉开jù lí距离。

But sometimes, the best response is actually to step back voluntarily and create distance.

zhōng wén中文lǐ里，yǒu有yí gè一个chéng yǔ成语zhuān mén专门xíng róng形容zhè zhǒng这种“zhǔ dòng主动tuì ràng退让”de的zhì huì智慧，jiào叫“tuì bì sān shè退避三舍”。

In Chinese, there is an idiom specifically describing this wisdom of voluntary concession called 退避三舍.

shǒu xiān首先，wǒ men我们xū yào需要jiě shì解释yī xià一下zhè ge这个cí词de的zì miàn字面yì si意思。

First, we need to explain the literal meaning of this term.

“shě舍”，shì是gǔ dài古代xíng jūn行军jì suàn计算lù chéng路程de的dān wèi单位，sān shí lǐ三十里jiào zuò叫做“yī shě一舍”。

舍 was a unit for measuring distance in ancient military marches; thirty li was called one 舍.

suǒ yǐ所以，“tuì bì sān shè退避三舍”，jiù shì就是zhǔ dòng主动hòu tuì后退jiǔ shí lǐ九十里。

Therefore, 退避三舍 means voluntarily retreating ninety li.

tīng qǐ lái听起来shì bú shì是不是hěn很yuǎn远？

Does that sound like a long way?

méi cuò没错，zhè这jiù shì就是zhè ge这个chéng yǔ成语tè bié特别de的dì fāng地方。

Exactly, that is what makes this idiom special.

tā它zuì zǎo最早lái zì来自chūn qiū春秋shí qī时期de的zhàn zhēng战争gù shì故事。

It originated from a war story during the Spring and Autumn period.

jìn guó晋国de的guó jūn国君wèi le为了xìn shǒu信守dāng nián当年de的chéng nuò承诺，zài在liǎng jūn两军duì lěi对垒shí时，bìng并méi yǒu没有mǎ shàng马上kāi zhàn开战，ér shì而是zhǔ dòng主动mìng lìng命令jūn duì军队hòu chè后撤jiǔ shí lǐ九十里。

To keep a past promise, the ruler of the Jin State did not start the battle immediately when the two armies faced off, but instead ordered his troops to retreat ninety li.

qǐng请zhù yì注意，zhè zhǒng这种hòu tuì后退，bìng并bú shì不是yīn wèi因为hài pà害怕，yě也bú shì不是yīn wèi因为dǎ bù guò打不过。

Please note that this retreat was not due to fear or being unable to win.

tā它shì是yī zhǒng一种cè lüè策略，gèng shì更是yī zhǒng一种fēng dù风度。

It was a strategy, and even more so, a display of character.

dào到le了jīn tiān今天，wǒ men我们zài在shēng huó生活zhōng中yòng用“tuì bì sān shè退避三舍”，tōng cháng通常shì是zài在xíng róng形容yī zhǒng一种“rě bù qǐ惹不起，dàn但wǒ我duǒ躲dé得qǐ起”de的tài dù态度。

Today, when we use 退避三舍 in daily life, it usually describes an attitude of 'I can't afford to provoke them, but I can avoid them.'

bǐ rú比如，yù dào遇到yí gè一个zhèng zài正在fā pí qì发脾气、wán quán完全bù不jiǎng dào lǐ讲道理de的rén人；huò zhě或者miàn duì面对yí gè一个shí lì实力tài太qiáng强、fēng máng锋芒tài太lù露de的duì shǒu对手。

For example, when encountering someone throwing a tantrum and being completely unreasonable, or facing an opponent who is too powerful and aggressive.

zhè ge这个shí hòu时候，yìng pèng yìng硬碰硬kě néng可能zhǐ只huì会ràng让shì qíng事情biàn dé变得gèng更zāo糟，huò zhě或者ràng让zì jǐ自己shòu shāng受伤。

At such times, head-on confrontation might only make things worse or cause you harm.

yú shì于是，nǐ你xuǎn zé选择bù不zhēng biàn争辩，shèn zhì甚至zhǔ dòng主动zǒu kāi走开，zhè这jiù shì就是“tuì bì sān shè退避三舍”。

So, you choose not to argue and even walk away voluntarily; this is 退避三舍.

hěn很duō多rén人jué de觉得tuì ràng退让shì是ruǎn ruò软弱de的biǎo xiàn表现。

Many people feel that yielding is a sign of weakness.

dàn但zhè ge这个chéng yǔ成语tí xǐng提醒wǒ men我们，tuì ràng退让qí shí其实shì是yī zhǒng一种jí qiáng极强de的kòng zhì lì控制力。

But this idiom reminds us that yielding is actually a form of strong self-control.

tā它yì wèi zhe意味着nǐ你néng gòu能够kòng zhì控制zì jǐ自己de的qíng xù情绪，bù不bèi被duì fāng对方de的jié zòu节奏dài带zhe着zǒu走。

It means you can control your emotions and not be led by the other person's rhythm.

suǒ yǐ所以，xià cì下次dāng当nǐ你xuǎn zé选择bù不yǔ与rén人zhēng chǎo争吵，ér shì而是zhuǎn shēn转身lí kāi离开shí时，bú yào不要jué de觉得zì jǐ自己shū输le了。

So, next time you choose not to argue but turn and leave, do not feel like you have lost.

nǐ你zhǐ shì只是wèi le为了bì miǎn避免wú yì yì无意义de的xiāo hào消耗，xuǎn zé选择le了“tuì bì sān shè退避三舍”。

You are simply choosing 退避三舍 to avoid meaningless exhaustion.

yǒu shí hòu有时候，xiàng向hòu tuì后退yī bù一步，xū yào需要de的yǒng qì勇气hé和zhì huì智慧，qí shí其实bǐ比xiàng qián向前chōng冲hái还yào要dà大。

Sometimes, taking a step back requires more courage and wisdom than charging forward.

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