每天成语
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进退两难

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

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: jìn tuì liǎng nán
  • English Translation: To be in a dilemma; between a rock and a hard place
  • Idiom Composition: 「进」（To advance or move forward）＋「退」（To retreat or move backward）＋「两」（Both or two）＋「难」（Difficult or hard）
  • Meaning: A state where it is difficult to either advance or retreat. It figuratively describes a predicament where any choice leads to trouble, making it impossible to decide on a course of action.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「进退两难」 contains the following nuances:

  • The Pain of a Double Bind: This idiom emphasizes that choosing Option A ruins Option B, and choosing Option B ruins Option A. It is specifically about the suffering caused by mutually exclusive, negative outcomes.
  • Paralysis of Action: The core image is 'stagnation.' Because both moving forward and backward are difficult, the subject often ends up unable to move at all, resulting in a complete standstill.

3. Usage

「进退两难」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Interpersonal Conflict: Used when caught between opposing parties, such as a boss and a subordinate or two friends, where supporting one side inevitably offends the other.
    • Example:「一边是多年的老友，一边是公司的规定，这让我感到进退两难。」
      （With a long-time friend on one side and company regulations on the other, I feel caught in a dilemma.)
  • Business and Negotiation: Used when facing a tough decision where accepting a deal causes a loss, but rejecting it damages a relationship or loses a client.
    • Example:「如果不接受这个报价会失去客户，接受了又会亏本，真是进退两难。」
      （If we don't accept this quote, we lose the client; if we do, we lose money. We are truly between a rock and a hard place.)
  • Physical Obstacles: Beyond the metaphorical, it can describe being physically unable to move due to weather, traffic, or other barriers.
    • Example:「暴风雪封住了道路，车队被困在山里进退两难。」
      （The blizzard blocked the roads, leaving the convoy stranded in the mountains.)

Additional Examples:

  1. 父母都想让我回老家，但我又不想放弃现在的工作，这让我进退两难。
    （My parents want me to return to my hometown, but I don't want to give up my current job; I am torn between the two.）
  2. 现在的局势让他在谈判桌上进退两难。
    （The current situation has left him in a tight spot at the negotiating table.）
  3. 答应帮忙吧没时间，不答应吧又怕得罪人，真是进退两难。
    （If I agree to help, I have no time, but if I refuse, I'm afraid of offending them. I'm really in a bind.）
  4. 由于资金链断裂，这个项目陷入了进退两难的境地。
    （Due to the break in the capital chain, this project has fallen into a state where it can neither proceed nor be abandoned.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Historical Origins: This phrase appears in classical texts such as the Yuan Dynasty play Zhou Gong She Zheng (周公摄政) and the Song Dynasty military treatise Wei Gong Bing Fa (卫公兵法). It was historically used to describe being surrounded in battle or facing political deadlock.
  • Nuance Comparison: While 进退两难 (jìn tuì liǎng nán) is very similar to 左右为难 (zuǒ yòu wéi nán), the former often implies a more critical or serious situation involving one's career or safety. 左右为难 (zuǒ yòu wéi nán) can be used for more casual indecision, like choosing between two outfits.
  • Modern Usage: It remains one of the most frequently used idioms in modern Chinese, appearing in both formal writing and daily conversation to describe everything from major life crises to minor social awkwardness.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

The idiom 进退两难 (jìn tuì liǎng nán) describes being caught in a difficult position where moving forward or backward is equally problematic. Whether dealing with interpersonal conflicts, business decisions, or physical obstacles, it perfectly captures the feeling of being stuck in a 'Catch-22' situation.

Idiom Essay

jìn tuì liǎng nán
进退两难
A Dilemma
shēng huó生活zhōng中，wǒ men我们cháng cháng常常huì会xiàn rù陷入yī zhǒng一种hěn很gān gà尴尬de的chǔ jìng处境。

In life, we often find ourselves in a very awkward situation.

wǎng qián往前zǒu走yī bù一步，hǎo xiàng好像huì会yǒu有má fán麻烦；wǎng往hòu tuì后退yī bù一步，sì hū似乎yě也bù不tài太duì对。

Taking a step forward seems like it will cause trouble, but taking a step back doesn't seem right either.

nǐ你jiù就zhè yàng这样bèi被kǎ卡zài在zhōng jiān中间，bù不zhī dào知道gāi该wǎng往nǎ ge哪个fāng xiàng方向yí dòng移动。

You are stuck in the middle, not knowing which direction to move.

zhōng wén中文lǐ里，yǒu有yí gè一个fēi cháng非常jīng zhǔn精准de的chéng yǔ成语，yòng lái用来xíng róng形容zhè zhǒng这种gǎn jué感觉，jiào zuò叫做“jìn tuì liǎng nán进退两难”。

In Chinese, there is a very precise idiom used to describe this feeling, called 进退两难.

zì miàn字面shàng上kàn看，tā它de的yì si意思hěn很jiǎn dān简单：“jìn进”shì是qián jìn前进，“tuì退”shì是hòu tuì后退。

Literally, its meaning is simple: 进 means to advance, and 退 means to retreat.

“liǎng nán两难”，jiù shì shuō就是说zhè这liǎng gè两个xuǎn zé选择，dōu都ràng让rén人gǎn dào感到kùn nán困难。

两难 means that both of these choices make a person feel difficult.

zhè ge这个cí词zuì最cháng yòng常用lái来xíng róng形容zuò做jué dìng决定shí时de的tòng kǔ痛苦。

This term is most commonly used to describe the pain of making a decision.

bǐ rú比如zài在gōng zuò工作zhōng中，nǐ你jué de觉得xiàn zài现在de的huán jìng环境bù不shì hé适合zì jǐ自己，hěn很xiǎng想lí kāi离开；kě shì可是，rú guǒ如果zhēn de真的cí zhí辞职，yòu又dān xīn担心zhǎo bú dào找不到gèng更hǎo好de的jī huì机会，shī qù失去wěn dìng稳定de的shōu rù收入。

For example, at work, you feel the current environment isn't right for you and want to leave; however, if you actually resign, you worry about not finding a better opportunity and losing a stable income.

liú xià留下lái来hěn很tòng kǔ痛苦，zǒu走yě也hěn很hài pà害怕。

Staying is painful, but leaving is also scary.

zhè这jiù shì就是diǎn xíng典型de的“jìn tuì liǎng nán进退两难”。

This is a classic case of 进退两难.

yòu又huò zhě或者zài在yí gè一个jù huì聚会shàng上，bié rén别人rè qíng热情dì地quàn劝nǐ你hē jiǔ喝酒。

Or perhaps at a party, someone enthusiastically urges you to drink.

hē喝ba吧，nǐ你zhī dào知道shēn tǐ身体huì会bù shū fú不舒服；bù不hē喝ba吧，yòu又pà怕péng yǒu朋友jué de觉得nǐ你bù不gěi miàn zi给面子，pò huài破坏le了qì fēn气氛。

If you drink, you know your body will feel unwell; if you don't, you fear your friend will think you are being disrespectful and ruin the atmosphere.

zhè shí hòu这时候，nǐ你xīn lǐ心里de的nà zhǒng那种jiū jié纠结hé和wú nài无奈，jiù shì就是“jìn tuì liǎng nán进退两难”。

At this moment, that inner conflict and helplessness is 进退两难.

zhí de值得zhù yì注意de的shì是，“jìn tuì liǎng nán进退两难”miáo shù描述de的，bìng并bú shì不是nǐ你“bù不zhī dào知道”yǒu有nǎ xiē哪些xuǎn zé选择。

It is worth noting that 进退两难 does not describe not knowing what choices you have.

xiāng fǎn相反，nǐ你kàn看dé得hěn很qīng chǔ清楚，zhǐ shì只是nǐ你zhī dào知道——bù guǎn不管xuǎn选nǎ哪yī tiáo一条lù路，dōu都yào要fù chū付出dài jià代价。

On the contrary, you see them clearly, but you know that no matter which path you choose, there is a price to pay.

tā它bú shì不是zài在shuō说wèn tí问题yǒu有duō多fù zá复杂，ér shì而是zài在miáo shù描述rén人bèi kùn被困zhù住shí时de的nà zhǒng那种jiāo lǜ焦虑gǎn感。

It is not about how complex the problem is, but rather describing the anxiety of being trapped.

suǒ yǐ所以，xià cì下次dāng当nǐ你fā xiàn发现zì jǐ自己yóu yù bù jué犹豫不决，jué de觉得zěn me怎么zuò做dōu都bù不wán měi完美de的shí hòu时候，bù fáng不妨yòng用zhè ge这个cí词lái来xíng róng形容dāng xià当下de的xīn qíng心情。

So, next time you find yourself hesitating and feeling that no choice is perfect, you might use this term to describe your current mood.

chéng rèn承认zì jǐ自己chǔ yú处于“jìn tuì liǎng nán进退两难”zhī zhōng之中，yǒu shí hòu有时候，fǎn ér反而shì是ràng让wǒ men我们lěng jìng冷静xià lái下来、xún zhǎo寻找dì sān tiáo第三条lù路de的dì yī bù第一步。

Admitting that you are in 进退两难 is sometimes the first step to calming down and finding a third way.

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