缩头

縮頭

suōtóu

verb #21,782

Meanings

1 to retract one's head
2 to back down
3 to shrink away (from responsibility or danger)
4 to be a coward

Characters

to shrink, to retract, to contract

Examples

遇到困难时，我们不能缩头，要勇敢面对。

Yùdào kùnnán shí, wǒmen bùnéng suōtóu, yào yǒnggǎn miànduì.

When faced with difficulties, we cannot shrink away — we must face them bravely.

他在关键时刻缩头不干，让大家很失望。

Tā zài guānjiàn shíkè suōtóu bù gàn, ràng dàjiā hěn shīwàng.

He backed down at the critical moment, disappointing everyone.

Tips

memory

缩头 literally means 'to retract one's head' — like a turtle pulling its head into its shell (缩头乌龟, suōtóu wūguī, 'turtle hiding its head'). It is a vivid metaphor for cowardice or avoiding responsibility.

Stroke Order

缩 suō

头 tóu