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瞻前顾后

瞻前顧後
zhānqiángùhòu
idiom #55,315

Meanings

  1. 1 to look forward and back (weighing carefully)
  2. 2 to be overcautious and indecisive
  3. 3 to hesitate, weighing every angle

Examples

做事瞻前顾后，就会错过好机会。
Zuòshì zhānqiángùhòu, jiù huì cuòguò hǎo jīhuì.
If you keep looking back and forth weighing everything, you'll miss good opportunities.
他性格谨慎，凡事都瞻前顾后。
Tā xìnggé jǐnshèn, fán shì dōu zhānqiángùhòu.
He has a cautious nature and weighs every angle in everything he does.
瞻前顾后是必要的，但过度就变成犹豫不决。
Zhānqiángùhòu shì bìyào de, dàn guòdù jiù biànchéng yóuyù bù jué.
Some looking-before-and-after is necessary, but taken too far it becomes indecision.

Tips

history
From Qu Yuan's 《离骚》: 瞻前而顾后兮，相观民之计极 — 'I look forward and glance backward, considering the limits of the people's plans.' Originally reflective deliberation; in modern use leans toward the negative sense of timid hesitation.
usage
Has two shades: positive (thoughtfully weighing pros and cons) or negative (overcautious to the point of paralysis). Context decides. Pair with 畏首畏尾 or 犹豫不决 for the negative sense.

Stroke Order

瞻 zhān
前 qián
顾 gù
后 hòu