retreat to avoid conflict; give way
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to retreat ninety li; to give way to avoid conflict; to yield as a compromise
literaryOriginating from the Spring and Autumn Period story of Duke Wen of Jin retreating three she (90 li) to fulfill a promise during the Battle of Chengpu. The idiom implies strategic concession to avoid direct confrontation. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
Jì既
rán然
duì对
fāng方
tài态
dù度
qiáng强
yìng硬
，
wǒ我
men们
bù不
fáng妨
tuì退
bì避
sān三
shè舍
，
zàn暂
shí时
ràng让
bù步
。
Since the other party has adopted a tough stance, we might as well retreat to avoid conflict and make temporary concessions.
Tā他
xìng性
gé格
qiān谦
hé和
，
yù遇
dào到
zhēng争
zhí执
zǒng总
shì是
tuì退
bì避
sān三
shè舍
。
He has a modest personality and always yields to avoid conflict when encountering disputes.
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Zài在
zhè这
gè个
mǐn敏
gǎn感
wèn问
tí题
shàng上
，
wǒ我
jiàn建
yì议
tuì退
bì避
sān三
shè舍
，
bù不
yào要
zhí直
jiē接
chōng冲
tū突
。
On this sensitive issue, I suggest giving way to avoid direct confrontation.