退让

• Pinyin: tuì ràng
• Hanzi breakdown: 退 = 辶 (walk) + 艮 (stop); 让 = 讠(speech) + 上 (above) — speaking deferentially

Meaning

To give way; to make concessions; to back down. Yielding to another party in a dispute or negotiation.

More deliberate than 退步 — 退让 implies choosing to give ground for the sake of harmony, progress, or a larger goal, rather than simply falling behind. Frequently appears in negotiation, conflict resolution, and relationship contexts. Can be positive (showing flexibility) or negative (showing weakness), depending on context.

Examples

1. 谈判双方都做出了一定的退让，协议最终得以签署。 Both sides in the negotiation made certain concessions, and the agreement was finally signed.
2. 在原则性问题上，我们绝不能无原则地退让。 On matters of principle, we must absolutely not make unprincipled concessions.
3. 她总是主动退让，久而久之养成了委曲求全的习惯。 She always voluntarily gave ground, and over time developed the habit of accepting humiliation just to get along.

Usage Guide

Context: negotiation, social, conflict resolution

Tone: diplomatic

Do Say

• 适当退让有时候是达成共识的必要条件。(Making appropriate concessions is sometimes a necessary condition for reaching consensus.)
• 双方都不肯退让，谈判陷入了僵局。(Neither side was willing to give ground, and the negotiations reached a deadlock.)

Don't Say

• 把立场坚定描述为拒绝退让 (坚持立场 is about maintaining a principled position; 不退让 sounds more like stubbornness — choose the word that fits the context)

Origin & History

Compound of 退 (step back) + 让 (yield, cede). Both characters reinforce the idea of voluntarily giving ground.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal