裹足不前

guǒzúbùqián

idiom #33,880

Meanings

1 to hesitate and hold back
2 to stand still without advancing; to be afraid to move forward

Characters

forward; to advance

Examples

面对困难，我们不能裹足不前。

Miànduì kùnnán, wǒmen bù néng guǒ zú bù qián.

Faced with difficulties, we can't hesitate and hold back.

他因为害怕失败而裹足不前。

Tā yīnwèi hàipà shībài ér guǒ zú bù qián.

He holds himself back because he fears failure.

机会当前，裹足不前只会错失良机。

Jīhuì dāngqián, guǒ zú bù qián zhǐ huì cuòshī liángjī.

With opportunity in front of you, hesitating only means losing your chance.

Tips

history

From Li Si's (李斯) 《谏逐客书》 of the Qin dynasty: '使天下之士，退而不敢西向，裹足不入秦' — 'scholars of the realm will turn back, refusing to head west, binding up their feet and not entering Qin.' Originally about literal refusal to travel; now figurative.

memory

Literal: 'to wrap up one's feet and not advance.' Picture binding your own feet with cloth so you physically can't walk forward — a vivid image of self-imposed paralysis.

Stroke Order

裹 guǒ

足 zú

不 bù

前 qián