tuìsuō: 退缩 - To Shrink Back, Recoil, Back Down
Quick Summary
Keywords: tuisuo, tuìsuō, 退缩, what does tuisuo mean, how to use tuisuo, Chinese for shrink back, recoil, flinch, back down, withdraw, Chinese word for cowardice, facing challenges in Chinese
Summary: Learn the meaning of the essential Chinese word 退缩 (tuìsuō), which means to shrink back, recoil, or back down, usually out of fear or in the face of difficulty. This guide breaks down its characters, cultural importance, and practical use in modern China, complete with 10 example sentences to help you master this HSK 5 term and understand Chinese perspectives on courage and perseverance.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): tuì suō
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: To shrink back, recoil, or withdraw from a challenge or threat.
In a Nutshell: 退缩 (tuìsuō) describes both a physical and psychological retreat. It's the feeling of pulling back when faced with something difficult, frightening, or overwhelming. It carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of courage or determination to see something through. Think of a turtle pulling its head into its shell—that's the core feeling of 退缩.
Character Breakdown
退 (tuì): This character means “to retreat,” “to move back,” or “to withdraw.” Imagine a soldier stepping backward away from a fight.
缩 (suō): This character means “to shrink,” “to contract,” or “to draw in.” Picture a piece of clothing shrinking in the wash or someone hunching their shoulders to make themselves smaller.
When combined, 退缩 (tuìsuō) creates a vivid image of “retreating and shrinking.” It's not just moving back, but doing so in a way that shows fear, hesitation, and a desire to become smaller and less noticeable in the face of a challenge.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, which often places a high value on persistence (坚持 - jiānchí) and resilience, 退缩 (tuìsuō) is viewed very negatively. It's seen as a sign of weakness or a character flaw. The expectation is to face difficulties head-on (迎难而上 - yíng nán ér shàng), not to back down. This is rooted in both traditional Confucian values of duty and perseverance, as well as modern China's “can-do” spirit of collective struggle and achievement.
A good Western comparison is the phrase “to chicken out,” but 退缩 is less slangy and can be used in more formal contexts. The key difference is that “to withdraw” in English can be a neutral, strategic decision (e.g., “withdraw troops”). 退缩, however, almost always implies a retreat born of fear or an unwillingness to endure hardship. It's about personal character, not strategy. To 退缩 is to fail a test of one's resolve.
Practical Usage in Modern China
退缩 is a common word used in conversations about personal challenges, work, and relationships. It is almost always used with a negative or cautionary tone.
In Daily Conversation: Parents might tell their children, “遇到困难不要退缩” (yùdào kùnnan bùyào tuìsuō - “Don't shrink back when you face difficulties”). Friends might use it to describe someone who gave up on a goal too easily.
In the Workplace: A manager might criticize an employee who is unwilling to take on a challenging project by saying they are showing an attitude of 退缩. Conversely, a motivational speech might praise a team for not 退缩ing in the face of fierce competition.
In Relationships: It can describe emotional withdrawal. If someone is afraid of commitment or conflict, you might say they 退缩 when the relationship gets serious.
The connotation is consistently negative. To accuse someone of 退缩ing is to criticize their courage. Therefore, saying “我不会退缩” (Wǒ bùhuì tuìsuō - “I will not back down”) is a strong statement of determination.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
遇到困难，我们决不能退缩。
Pinyin: Yùdào kùnnan, wǒmen jué bùnéng tuìsuō.
English: When we encounter difficulties, we absolutely cannot shrink back.
Analysis: A very common and motivational phrase used in educational, professional, or personal contexts. It emphasizes resilience.
Example 2:
看到那只大狗，小男孩害怕地退缩了。
Pinyin: Kàndào nà zhī dà gǒu, xiǎo nánhái hàipà de tuìsuō le.
English: Seeing that big dog, the little boy shrank back in fear.
Analysis: This shows the literal, physical meaning of 退缩—a physical recoil caused by fear.
Example 3:
面对强大的对手，他丝毫没有退缩。
Pinyin: Miànduì qiángdà de duìshǒu, tā sīháo méiyǒu tuìsuō.
English: Facing a powerful opponent, he didn't back down in the slightest.
Analysis: `丝毫没有 (sīháo méiyǒu)` means “not in the least,” which powerfully emphasizes his courage. This is high praise.
Example 4:
这不是退缩的时候，我们必须承担责任。
Pinyin: Zhè bùshì tuìsuō de shíhòu, wǒmen bìxū chéngdān zérèn.
English: This is not the time to back down; we must take responsibility.
Analysis: Here, 退缩 is contrasted with taking responsibility, highlighting its connection to avoidance and evasion.
Example 5:
一受到批评，他就开始退缩，不想再尝试了。
Pinyin: Yī shòudào pīpíng, tā jiù kāishǐ tuìsuō, bùxiǎng zài chángshì le.
English: As soon as he receives criticism, he starts to withdraw and doesn't want to try anymore.
Analysis: This example illustrates an emotional or psychological 退缩, where criticism causes someone to lose motivation.
Example 6:
在感情上，他总是有点退缩，不敢表达真实的自己。
Pinyin: Zài gǎnqíng shàng, tā zǒngshì yǒudiǎn tuìsuō, bù gǎn biǎodá zhēnshí de zìjǐ.
English: In relationships, he always withdraws a bit, not daring to express his true self.
Analysis: Shows how 退缩 can be used to describe emotional unavailability or fear of intimacy.
Example 7:
面对公众的质疑，那位官员选择了退缩和沉默。
Pinyin: Miànduì gōngzhòng de zhíyí, nà wèi guānyuán xuǎnzé le tuìsuō hé chénmò.
English: Facing public questioning, that official chose to shrink back and remain silent.
Analysis: This implies cowardice or an inability to face accountability, a common usage in social or political commentary.
Example 8:
市场环境不好，很多投资者都退缩了。
Pinyin: Shìchǎng huánjìng bù hǎo, hěnduō tóuzīzhě dōu tuìsuō le.
English: The market environment is not good, so many investors have pulled back.
Analysis: In a financial context, 退缩 means to withdraw investment out of fear or caution about risk.
Example 9:
我告诉自己，无论未来多艰难，都不能退缩。
Pinyin: Wǒ gàosù zìjǐ, wúlùn wèilái duō jiānnán, dōu bùnéng tuìsuō.
English: I told myself that no matter how difficult the future is, I cannot back down.
Analysis: A classic example of self-motivation, using 退缩 as the negative behavior to be avoided at all costs.
Example 10:
他的退缩让整个团队都很失望。
Pinyin: Tā de tuìsuō ràng zhěnggè tuánduì dōu hěn shīwàng.
English: His backing down made the entire team very disappointed.
Analysis: Here, 退缩 is used as a noun (“the act of backing down”), showing how a person's lack of courage can affect others.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
退缩 (tuìsuō) vs. 放弃 (fàngqì): This is a crucial distinction.
放弃 (fàngqì) means “to give up” and can be neutral. You can give up a bad habit (放弃抽烟 - fàngqì chōuyān), which is good.
退缩 means to give up *because of fear or difficulty*. It's about the cowardly *reason* for stopping.
退缩 (tuìsuō) vs. 退出 (tuìchū): 退出 (tuìchū) means “to quit” or “to exit” an organization, group, or competition. It's a formal action.
退缩 is the psychological state that might lead to that action.
退缩 (tuìsuō) vs. 撤退 (chètuì): 撤退 (chètuì) is a strategic or military “retreat.” It's a planned, often neutral action.
退缩 is an unplanned, emotional, and personal act of recoil. A general orders a
撤退; a single, frightened soldier might
退缩.
害怕 (hàipà) - To be afraid. The core emotion that often causes someone to
退缩.
坚持 (jiānchí) - To persevere, to insist on. The direct antonym of the action of
退缩.
放弃 (fàngqì) - To give up. A more neutral term for ceasing an action, which can be the result of
退缩.
犹豫 (yóuyù) - To hesitate. The state of indecision one experiences before deciding to either move forward or
退缩.
懦弱 (nuòruò) - Cowardly, weak. A strong adjective describing the personality trait of someone who often
退缩.
胆小 (dǎnxiǎo) - Timid. A softer adjective than `懦弱`, but it also describes someone prone to
退缩.
迎难而上 (yíng nán ér shàng) - A four-character idiom meaning “to press forward in the face of difficulties.” The philosophical opposite of
退缩.
撤退 (chètuì) - To retreat (strategically). Differentiated from the emotional recoil of
退缩.