知难而退

知難而退

zhīnán'értuì

idiom #44,269

Meanings

1 to retreat upon realizing the difficulty
2 to back off once you see it's too hard (can be prudent or cowardly depending on context)

Characters

to know; realize

and then (classical)

to retreat; withdraw

Examples

HSK 5

见形势不利，他选择知难而退。

Jiàn xíngshì búlì, tā xuǎnzé zhīnán'értuì.

Seeing the situation was unfavorable, he chose to back off.

HSK 5

遇到挑战就知难而退，永远不会进步。

Yùdào tiǎozhàn jiù zhīnán'értuì, yǒngyuǎn búhuì jìnbù.

If you retreat at every challenge, you'll never make progress.

HSK 7-9

明知做不到，不如知难而退。

Míngzhī zuò bùdào, bùrú zhīnán'értuì.

If you clearly can't do it, better to step back than push on.

Tips

history

From 《左传·宣公十二年》: 见可而行，知难而退，军之善政也 - 'to advance when you see opportunity and retreat when you see difficulty is good military strategy.' Originally a neutral tactical principle; modern usage often tilts negative ('give up too easily').

usage

Context-dependent tone. Praising: 'wise to know your limits.' Criticizing: 'quits at the first sign of trouble.' Contrast with 迎难而上 (to rise to the challenge), its opposite.

Stroke Order

知 zhī

难 nán

而 ér

退 tuì