in a dilemma; between a rock and a hard place
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to be caught in a dilemma; to be between a rock and a hard place
literary“谷”在这里比喻困难的境地。这是一个经典成语，用于描述陷入两难选择的困境。
Zhè这
ge个
xiàng项
mù目
chéng成
běn本
yán严
zhòng重
chāo超
zhī支
，
jì继
xù续
zuò做
huì会
kuī亏
gèng更
duō多
，
fàng放
qì弃
zé则
qián前
gōng功
jìn尽
qì弃
，
wǒ我
men们
zhēn真
shì是
jìn进
tuì退
wéi维
gǔ谷
。
This project is severely over budget; continuing will lead to greater losses, but abandoning it means all previous efforts are wasted. We are truly caught in a dilemma.
Gōng公
sī司
miàn面
lín临
cái裁
yuán员
hé和
jiā加
xīn薪
de的
liǎng两
nán难
xuǎn选
zé择
，
guǎn管
lǐ理
céng层
zhèng正
chǔ处
yú于
jìn进
tuì退
wéi维
gǔ谷
de的
jìng境
dì地
。
The company is faced with the difficult choice of layoffs or pay raises, putting management in a real bind.
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Tā他
jiā夹
zài在
jiā家
tíng庭
hé和
shì事
yè业
de的
chōng冲
tū突
zhī之
jiān间
，
jìn进
tuì退
wéi维
gǔ谷
，
yè夜
bù不
néng能
mèi寐
。
Caught in the conflict between family and career, he was in a quandary and couldn't sleep at night.
Jì继
xù续
tán谈
pàn判
méi没
yǒu有
jié结
guǒ果
，
zhí直
jiē接
jù拒
jué绝
yòu又
pà怕
dé得
zuì罪
duì对
fāng方
，
zhè这
zhǒng种
jìn进
tuì退
wéi维
gǔ谷
de的
jú局
miàn面
ràng让
tā他
bèi倍
gǎn感
yā压
lì力
。
Continuing the negotiation leads nowhere, but a direct refusal risks offending the other party. This impossible situation puts him under great pressure.