退缩

• Pinyin: tuì suō
• Hanzi breakdown: 退 = 辶 (walk) + 艮 (stop); 缩 = 纟(silk/thread) + 宿 (lodge) — threads pulled tight

Meaning

To flinch; to shrink back; to back away from a challenge. Withdrawing due to fear, difficulty, or lack of resolve.

Strongly negative in connotation — implies cowardice or a failure of resolve rather than strategic withdrawal. Often used to criticise or admonish someone for not facing up to a difficulty. Common in motivational speech, military or sports contexts, and in criticisms of character.

Examples

1. 越是在艰难的时候，越不能退缩。 The harder the times, the less you can afford to flinch.
2. 面对比自己强大的对手，他没有丝毫退缩的意思。 Facing an opponent stronger than himself, he showed not the slightest intention of backing down.
3. 一遇到困难就退缩，永远无法取得真正的突破。 Shrinking away every time a difficulty arises means you will never achieve a true breakthrough.

Usage Guide

Context: motivational, personal, professional

Tone: admonishing

Do Say

• 在挑战面前退缩只会让自己更加懊悔。(Flinching in the face of challenges will only make you more regretful later.)
• 他没有退缩，而是直接跟上司说明了自己的想法。(He didn't shrink back but instead stated his views directly to his supervisor.)

Don't Say

• 把战术性撤退称为'退缩' (退缩 implies a failure of courage; a planned strategic withdrawal is 撤退 or 退却, not 退缩)

Origin & History

Compound of 退 (retreat) + 缩 (shrink, contract). Together vividly describe the act of shrinking away and retreating.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal