Word Meaning 寸進尺退

すんしんしゃくたい sunshinshakutai

寸進尺退 is read as すんしんしゃくたい (sunshinshakutai) and means one step forward, many steps backward.

Meaning

English

one step forward, many steps backward
little to gain and much to lose

Reading

Kana

すんしんしゃくたい

Romaji

sunshinshakutai

Stroke Sequence

4 Characters • 27 Total Strokes

Study Signals and Categories

JLPT N1 Jōyō Grade 6 Kanken 5級 Yojijukugo ✓ Rank 121008 Priority T

Related Vocabulary

Max. 12

寸尺

すんしゃく

short length

寸善尺魔

すんぜんしゃくま

in evil, there is odds

挙措進退

きょそしんたい

behavior

進退

しんだい

remaining in one's post or resigning

一進一退

いっしんいったい

now advancing and now retreating

出処進退

しゅっしょしんたい

staying in one's position or resigning

二進一退

にしんいったい

two steps forward, one step back

坐作進退

ざさしんたい

deportment

進退去就

しんたいきょしゅう

one's course of action

進退維谷まる

しんたいこれきわまる

to be driven into a corner

進むも地獄退くも地獄

すすむもじごくしりぞくもじごく

between the devil and the deep blue sea

進退窮まる

しんたいきわまる

to be driven into a corner