jiǎotàliǎngzhīchuán

脚踏两只船

Word · IdiomTraditional腳踏兩隻船

straddle two boats; have a foot in both camps

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

1 sense · 3 examples
1.

idiom

to have a foot in both camps; to sit on the fence; to be of two minds

neutral

Typically used in a derogatory or critical sense, implying disloyalty, indecision, or opportunism. Originates from the physically impossible act of standing on two separate boats at once, implying an unstable or dishonest position.

Tā他
zài在
liǎng两
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
dōu都
guà挂
zhí职
 ,
zhēn真
shì是
jiǎo脚
tà踏
liǎng两
zhī只
chuán船
 。

He holds positions at two companies at once, truly trying to straddle two boats.

Tán谈
liàn恋
ài爱
bù不
néng能
jiǎo脚
tà踏
liǎng两
zhī只
chuán船
 ,
yào要
duì对
gǎn感
qíng情
zhuān专
yī一
 。

You can't date two people at once; you need to be loyal in a relationship.

Show 1 more example
Zài在
yuán原
zé则
wèn问
tí题
shàng上
 ,
wǒ我
men们
bì必
xū须
lì立
chǎng场
jiān坚
dìng定
 ,
bù不
néng能
jiǎo脚
tà踏
liǎng两
zhī只
chuán船
 。

On matters of principle, we must take a firm stand and cannot sit on the fence.