知難而退 [－难－－]

Jyutping zi1 naan4 ji4 teoi3
Pinyin zhī nán ér tuì

Definitions (CC-CEDICT)
  1. lit. to sound out the difficulties and retreat to avoid defeat (idiom)
  2. fig. to back out of an awkward situation; to get out on finding out what it's really like
Definitions (粵典–words.hk)
  1. 語句
    遇到​困​難​嘅​時​候​退​縮​，​唔​嘗試​解決​、​面對
    to beat a retreat when facing difficulties
    • 李大文冇讀過大學，佢知道陳小姐係博士之後就知難而退，唔敢再約佢。
      李大文冇读过大学，佢知道陈小姐系博士之后就知难而退，唔敢再约佢。
      lei5 daai6 man4 mou5 duk6 gwo3 daai6 hok6, keoi5 zi1 dou3 can4 siu2 ze2 hai6 bok3 si6 zi1 hau6 zau6 zi1 naan4 ji4 teoi3, m4 gam2 zoi3 jeok3 keoi5.
      Lee Tai Man didn't go to the university. When he knew that Miss Chan was a doctor, he dared not to date her again.
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. phrase, idiomatic
    to retreat or shrink back in face of difficulties
Definitions (Kaifangcidian)
  1. （沒有對應漢語詞彙）
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    李大文冇读过大学，佢知道陈小姐系博士之后就知难而退，唔敢再约佢。
    李大文冇讀過大學，佢知道陳小姐係博士之後就知難而退，唔敢再約佢。
    lei5 daai6 man4 mou5 duk6 gwo3 daai6 hok6, keoi5 zi1 dou3 can4 siu2 ze2 hai6 bok3 si6 zi1 hau6 zau6 zi1 naan4 ji4 teoi3, m4 gam2 zoi3 jeok3 keoi5.
    • Lee Tai Man didn't go to the university. When he knew that Miss Chan was a doctor, he dared not to date her again.