zi1 naan4 ji4 teoi3知難而退知难而退
Jyutpingzi1 naan4 ji4 teoi3
Yalejī nàahn yìh teui
Definition
To beat a retreat when facing difficulties; to back down or give up rather than trying to face a challenge.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a slightly negative or critical tone when used to describe someone who gives up too easily. It is often employed to challenge someone to persevere rather than choosing the path of least resistance. While it can describe a rational decision to avoid a hopeless situation, it is more frequently used to point out a lack of determination.
Examples
If you retreat at the slightest difficulty, how will you ever achieve anything great?
Seeing how complex the project was, he immediately gave up and decided not to do it.
Related words
Common phrases
to give up easily when facing difficulties
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
