稳步不前

穩步不前
wěnbù-bùqián
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to mark time without advancing
  2. 2 to stagnate while appearing steady

Examples

HSK 5
Gōngsī jìn jǐ nián wěnbù-bùqián, méiyǒu rènhé chuàngxīn.
The company has been stagnating for the past few years, with no innovation at all.
HSK 6
Rúguǒ zhǐ mǎnzú yú xiànzhuàng, jiù huì wěnbù-bùqián.
If you're only satisfied with the status quo, you'll stagnate.

Tips

usage
A play on 稳步前进 ('to advance steadily'). Swapping 前进 for 不前 turns a positive phrase into a critique: looks stable on the surface but actually going nowhere. Used about businesses, projects, or careers that are coasting.

Stroke Order

wěn
qián