进退维谷

進退維谷

jìntuìwéigǔ

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

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.

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