寸步难行

寸步難行

cùnbù-nánxíng

idiom #35,829

Meanings

1 unable to move a single step (idiom)
2 to be in an extremely difficult situation
3 stuck; completely stymied

Characters

to walk; proceed

Examples

HSK 4

没有资金，项目寸步难行。

Méiyǒu zījīn, xiàngmù cùnbù-nánxíng.

Without funding, the project can't move forward at all.

HSK 7-9

在陌生的城市没有手机，真是寸步难行。

Zài mòshēng de chéngshì méiyǒu shǒujī, zhēnshi cùnbù-nánxíng.

In an unfamiliar city without a phone, you really can't go anywhere.

HSK 7-9

这项改革遇到阻力，寸步难行。

Zhè xiàng gǎigé yùdào zǔlì, cùnbù-nánxíng.

This reform has hit resistance and can't progress an inch.

Tips

history

Traced to Du Fu's Tang poem 《九日寄岑参》: 所向泥活活，思君令人瘦……寸步曲江头，难为一相就 - the muddy roads make even an inch of travel to meet his friend impossible. The phrase crystallized into 寸步难行 and now describes any situation where progress has stalled.

usage

Two uses: (1) literal - physically unable to walk (bad weather, injury, obstacles); (2) figurative - a project, business, or plan stuck at an impasse. Very common in business and political commentary; pairs with 遇到阻力, 没有支持, 资金匮乏.

Stroke Order

寸 cùn

步 bù

难 nán

行 xíng