yǐ tuì wéi jìn: 以退为进 - To Retreat in Order to Advance

• Keywords: 以退为进, yi tui wei jin, Chinese idiom for retreating to advance, take a step back to move forward Chinese, strategic retreat, feigning weakness strategy, Chinese negotiation tactics, Sun Tzu art of war strategy, Chinese proverbs.
• Summary: Discover the powerful Chinese idiom 以退为进 (yǐ tuì wéi jìn), a concept deeply rooted in strategic thinking like that found in Sun Tzu's “The Art of War”. This phrase means “to retreat in order to advance” and describes the tactic of making a temporary concession or taking a step back to achieve a greater long-term goal. Whether in business negotiations, personal relationships, or strategic planning, understanding 以退为进 is key to grasping a fundamental aspect of Chinese culture and communication.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yǐ tuì wéi jìn
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (四字成语) / Idiom
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: To make a tactical retreat or concession as a means for future advancement.
• In a Nutshell: 以退为进 is the art of strategic retreat. It's not about giving up; it's about being clever. Imagine a boxer leaning back to dodge a punch, only to use that momentum to land a more powerful counter-attack. This idiom describes that exact idea: you intentionally take a small, temporary loss (a “retreat”) to put yourself in a better position for a much bigger victory (an “advance”) later on. It's a proactive strategy of feigning weakness to achieve a long-term goal.

• 以 (yǐ): A preposition meaning “to use,” “to take,” or “by means of.” It sets up a cause-and-effect or means-to-an-end relationship.
• 退 (tuì): To retreat, withdraw, or move backward.
• 为 (wéi): To act as, to become, or “for the purpose of.”
• 进 (jìn): To advance, move forward, or enter.

When combined, the characters literally mean “to use retreating as advancing.” The logic is built right into the phrase: the act of stepping back (退) is the very method used for the purpose of moving forward (进).

• Philosophical Roots: This concept is deeply influenced by Taoist philosophy, particularly the idea that softness and yielding can overcome hardness and aggression (like water flowing around a rock). It also echoes the strategic principles found in classic Chinese military texts like Sun Tzu's *The Art of War*, which emphasizes deception, patience, and attacking an opponent's weakness rather than their strength.
• Western Comparison: A similar Western phrase is “to take one step back to take two steps forward” or the French “reculer pour mieux sauter” (to step back to jump better). However, there's a key difference in emphasis. The Western phrases often imply a need to regroup after an unexpected setback. 以退为进 is more proactive and intentional from the very beginning. It is a calculated, often deceptive, maneuver designed to lure an opponent into a false sense of security. It's less about recovering and more about strategically repositioning for a decisive victory.
• Related Values: This idiom highlights cultural values such as long-term thinking, patience, indirectness, and the preference for strategy over brute force. It shows a sophisticated understanding of social and political dynamics where a direct confrontation may not be the wisest or most effective path.

This idiom is frequently used in various aspects of modern life, often to describe a clever or wise strategy.

• Business and Negotiation: This is a classic context. A company might offer a significant discount on an initial order (the “retreat”) to secure a lucrative long-term supply contract (the “advance”). Or, during negotiations, one side might concede a minor point they don't care about to make the other side more willing to give in on a major point later.
• Interpersonal Conflicts: In an argument with a friend or partner, one might choose to apologize first, even if they feel they are not entirely wrong. This act of “retreating” de-escalates the tension and opens the door for a more productive conversation, ultimately strengthening the relationship (the “advance”).
• Career Planning: Someone might accept a lower-paying job at a prestigious company (the “retreat”) to gain valuable experience and connections that will allow them to “advance” to a much higher position in the future.
• Formality: The term is slightly formal but widely understood. It's appropriate in business meetings, academic discussions, and in educated conversation. It carries a connotation of wisdom and strategic foresight.

• Example 1:
  • 在这次谈判中，我们决定先在价格上让步，这是一种以退为进的策略。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhè cì tánpàn zhōng, wǒmen juédìng xiān zài jiàgé shàng ràngbù, zhè shì yī zhǒng yǐ tuì wéi jìn de cèlüè.
  • English: In this negotiation, we decided to first make a concession on the price; this is a strategy of retreating in order to advance.
  • Analysis: A classic business example where a short-term loss (lower price) is accepted for a long-term gain (securing the deal).
• Example 2:
  • 他暂时退出了竞选，很多人都认为他是在以退为进，等待更好的时机。
  • Pinyin: Tā zànshí tuìchūle jìngxuǎn, hěn duō rén dōu rènwéi tā shì zài yǐ tuì wéi jìn, děngdài gèng hǎo de shíjī.
  • English: He temporarily withdrew from the election campaign; many people believe he is retreating to advance, waiting for a better opportunity.
  • Analysis: This sentence applies the concept to a political context, highlighting the long-term, strategic nature of the action.
• Example 3:
  • 面对他咄咄逼人的态度，我选择沉默，有时候不回应就是最好的以退为进。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì tā duōduōbīrén de tàidù, wǒ xuǎnzé chénmò, yǒushíhòu bù huíyīng jiùshì zuì hǎo de yǐ tuì wéi jìn.
  • English: Faced with his aggressive attitude, I chose to remain silent. Sometimes, not responding is the best way to retreat in order to advance.
  • Analysis: This shows the idiom used in a personal, social context. The “retreat” is silence, and the “advance” is de-escalating the situation and retaining control.
• Example 4:
  • 我们的球队故意让对手先进一球，打乱他们的节奏，这招以退为进用得真妙。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de qiúduì gùyì ràng duìshǒu xiān jìn yī qiú, dǎluàn tāmen de jiézòu, zhè zhāo yǐ tuì wéi jìn yòng dé zhēn miào.
  • English: Our team intentionally let the opponent score a goal first to disrupt their rhythm; this “retreat to advance” move was used brilliantly.
  • Analysis: A sports context where a tactical loss is used to gain a strategic advantage.
• Example 5:
  • 为了学到核心技术，他甘愿从基层做起，这对他来说是以退为进的一步棋。
  • Pinyin: Wèile xué dào héxīn jìshù, tā gānyuàn cóng jīcéng zuò qǐ, zhè duì tā lái shuō shì yǐ tuì wéi jìn de yī bù qí.
  • English: In order to learn the core technology, he was willing to start from a junior position. For him, this was a “retreat to advance” chess move.
  • Analysis: This illustrates the concept in career development, framing a seemingly backward step as a strategic move (“一步棋” - a move in a chess game).
• Example 6:
  • 父母有时候对孩子的小要求让步，是为了在更重要的事情上获得他们的合作，这也是一种以退为进。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ yǒushíhòu duì háizi de xiǎo yāoqiú ràngbù, shì wèile zài gèng zhòngyào de shìqíng shàng huòdé tāmen de hézuò, zhè yěshì yī zhǒng yǐ tuì wéi jìn.
  • English: Parents sometimes give in to their children's small requests in order to gain their cooperation on more important matters; this is also a form of retreating to advance.
  • Analysis: This applies the idiom to parenting, showing its versatility in everyday life.
• Example 7:
  • 这家公司关闭了亏损的部门，集中资源发展核心业务，可谓是以退为进的明智之举。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī guānbìle kuīsǔn de bùmén, jízhōng zīyuán fāzhǎn héxīn yèwù, kěwèi shì yǐ tuì wéi jìn de míngzhì zhī jǔ.
  • English: This company shut down its unprofitable departments to focus resources on its core business; it can be called a wise move of retreating in order to advance.
  • Analysis: This shows a large-scale corporate strategy as an example of “retreating” from certain markets to “advance” more effectively in others.
• Example 8:
  • 在辩论中，我先承认了对方论点中的一个次要事实，然后借此引出了我更有力的反驳，成功地以退为进。
  • Pinyin: Zài biànlùn zhōng, wǒ xiān chéngrènle duìfāng lùndiǎn zhōng de yīgè cìyào shìshí, ránhòu jiè cǐ yǐnchūle wǒ gèng yǒulì de fǎnbó, chénggōng de yǐ tuì wéi jìn.
  • English: In the debate, I first conceded a minor fact in my opponent's argument and then used it to introduce my more powerful rebuttal, successfully retreating in order to advance.
  • Analysis: A great example of how this strategy works in rhetoric and argumentation.
• Example 9:
  • 有时候，暂时的妥协并不是软弱，而是一种以退为进的智慧。
  • Pinyin: Yǒushíhòu, zànshí de tuǒxié bìng bùshì ruǎnruò, ér shì yī zhǒng yǐ tuì wéi jìn de zhìhuì.
  • English: Sometimes, a temporary compromise is not weakness, but rather the wisdom of retreating in order to advance.
  • Analysis: This sentence is more philosophical, defining the core nature of the idiom as a form of wisdom, not weakness.
• Example 10:
  • 你现在和他硬碰硬是不行的，不如学学以退为进，先答应他的部分条件。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xiànzài hé tā yìng pèng yìng shì bùxíng de, bùrú xué xué yǐ tuì wéi jìn, xiān dāyìng tā de bùfèn tiáojiàn.
  • English: Confronting him head-on right now won't work. You'd be better off learning to retreat in order to advance by first agreeing to some of his conditions.
  • Analysis: This sentence gives direct advice, showing how the idiom is used prescriptively in conversation.

• Not Actual Surrender: A common mistake for learners is to confuse 以退为进 with genuine weakness or giving up. The “retreat” is always a means to an end. If there is no plan for a future “advance,” then it's just a retreat (后退, hòutuì) or a surrender (投降, tóuxiáng). The strategic intent is crucial.
• False Friend: “Cutting Your Losses”: In English, “cutting your losses” means abandoning a failing project or investment to prevent further damage. This is a damage control measure. 以退为进 is different; it's a proactive strategy applied to a situation (which may not even be failing) to create a better outcome. The former is about minimizing loss, while the latter is about maximizing a future gain.
• Incorrect Usage:
  • Wrong: 他考试失败了，只好以退为进，明年再考。(He failed the exam, so he had to retreat to advance and try again next year.)
  • Why it's wrong: This is simply a setback, not a strategic choice. He didn't *choose* to fail as a tactic. A better phrase here would be something like “he had no choice but to try again next year” (他只好明年再考).
  • Corrected Context: If the student intentionally chose to get a lower grade on a minor test to have more time to study for the final exam, that could be described as 以退为进.

• 韬光养晦 (tāo guāng yǎng huì): To hide one's capabilities and bide one's time. This is a long-term strategy of lying low, often a prerequisite for a future “advance.”
• 欲擒故纵 (yù qín gù zòng): In order to capture something, one must first let it go. A very similar tactic, often used in romance or military strategy, involving loosening one's grip to achieve ultimate control.
• 卧薪尝胆 (wò xīn cháng dǎn): To sleep on sticks and taste gall. This historical idiom refers to enduring extreme hardship and humiliation over a long period to nurse a grievance and achieve future revenge or victory. It is an extreme and epic form of 以退为进.
• 退一步海阔天空 (tuì yī bù hǎi kuò tiān kōng): Take a step back to find the sea is vast and the sky is wide. While it also involves “stepping back” (退), this phrase advises de-escalation for the sake of peace and a broader perspective, rather than for strategic gain. It's about finding harmony, not victory.
• 权宜之计 (quán yí zhī jì): An expedient measure; a temporary solution. The “retreat” in an 以退为进 plan is often a 权宜之计.
• 忍辱负重 (rěn rǔ fù zhòng): To endure humiliation to carry out an important mission. This describes the “retreat” phase when it involves a loss of face or status.
• 策略 (cèlüè): Strategy; tactics. 以退为进 is a classic example of a Chinese cèlüè.