缩头乌龟

縮頭烏龜
suōtóu wūguī
noun

Meanings

  1. 1 a turtle that pulls in its head
  2. 2 coward

Examples

HSK 7-9
Yì chūshì tā jiù duǒ qǐlai, zhēnshì ge suōtóu wūguī.
As soon as there's trouble he hides; he's a real coward.
HSK 7-9
Yǒu běnshi jiù chūlái, bié dāng suōtóu wūguī!
If you've got the guts, come out; don't hide like a coward!

Tips

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A strong insult for someone who hides from trouble or responsibility, like a turtle pulling in its head. It stings more than English "chicken", because 乌龟 is also slang for a man whose wife is unfaithful.

Stroke Order

缩 suō
头 tóu
乌 wū
龟 guī