进退维谷

進退維谷

jìntuì-wéigǔ

idiom #33,925

Meanings

1 caught in a dilemma
2 no way to advance or retreat
3 stuck between a rock and a hard place

Characters

to be (classical copula)

valley; predicament

Examples

HSK 4

面对这个难题，他进退维谷。

Miànduì zhège nántí, tā jìntuìwéigǔ.

Faced with this difficult problem, he was stuck with no way out.

HSK 7-9

公司陷入进退维谷的境地。

Gōngsī xiànrù jìntuìwéigǔ de jìngdì.

The company is caught in an impossible situation.

Tips

history

From the 《诗经·大雅·桑柔》 (Classic of Poetry, 'Mulberry Tree Tender'): 人亦有言，进退维谷 ('There is a saying among people: in advancing and retreating one is in a valley'). Here 维 means 'is' and 谷 (valley) symbolizes a tight predicament.

Stroke Order

进 jìn

退 tuì

维 wéi

谷 gǔ