Chinese–EnglishWith examples

退缩

tuì suō · tui suo

Traditional 退縮

HSK 7–9

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to shrink back; to cower
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In a conversation

0:24 cartoon

Stage fright

  1. Dengdeng

    明天(míngtiān)我(wǒ)要(yào)在(zài)大家(dàjiā)面前(miànqián)唱歌(chànggē)，有点(yǒudiǎn)紧张(jǐnzhāng)。

    Tomorrow I will sing in front of everyone. I am a bit nervous.

  2. Liangliang

    别(bié)退缩(tuìsuō)！你(nǐ)已经(yǐjīng)练了(liànle)一个月(yīgèyuè)了(le)。

    Do not back down! You have practiced for a month already.

  3. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)不(bù)想(xiǎng)退缩(tuìsuō)，可是(kěshì)手(shǒu)一直(yīzhí)在(zài)抖(dǒu)。

    I do not want to back down, but my hands keep shaking.

  4. Liangliang

    深(shēn)呼吸(hūxī)。上台(shàngtái)以后(yǐhòu)就(jiù)不(bù)紧张(jǐnzhāng)了(le)。

    Breathe deeply. After you get on stage you will not be nervous.

  5. Dengdeng

    好(hǎo)！我(wǒ)不(bù)退缩(tuìsuō)，我(wǒ)只是(zhǐshì)先(xiān)往后(wǎnghòu)退(tuì)几步(jǐbù)。

    Okay! I will not back down. I am just going to step back a few steps first.

  6. Liangliang

    往后(wǎnghòu)退(tuì)几步(jǐbù)，就是(jiùshì)退缩(tuìsuō)！

    Stepping back a few steps IS backing down!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

面(miàn)对(duì)困(kùn)难(nan)，他(tā)从(cóng)不(bú)退(tuì)缩(suō)。

He never shrinks back in the face of difficulties.

02

遇(yù)到(dào)危(wēi)险(xiǎn)时(shí)，我(wǒ)们(men)不(bù)能(néng)退(tuì)缩(suō)。

When we encounter danger, we must not cower.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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