左右为难 zuǒ yòu wéi nán in a dilemma

Explanation

形容处境困难，进退两难。无论怎么做都有难处。

Describes a difficult situation where one must choose between two evils. No matter what one does, there are difficulties.

Origin Story

从前，有个年轻人名叫小明，他同时得到了两份工作邀请，一份是心仪已久的科技公司，另一份是待遇优渥的金融机构。科技公司的工作充满挑战，需要付出大量时间和精力，但能让他施展才华，实现职业梦想；金融机构则轻松许多，工作稳定，收入丰厚，能让他过上舒适的生活。小明左右为难，他渴望追求梦想，但也需要考虑现实的经济压力。他辗转反侧，思考良久，最终还是选择了科技公司，他觉得人生在世，要追求自己的理想，即使道路坎坷，也要奋勇前行。

cóng qián, yǒu ge nián qīng rén míng jiào xiǎo míng, tā tóngshí dédào le liǎng fèn gōngzuò yāoqǐng, yī fèn shì xīnyí yǐ jiǔ de kē jì gōngsī, lìng yī fèn shì dài yù yōu wò de jīnróng jīgòu。kē jì gōngsī de gōngzuò chōngmǎn tiǎozhàn, xūyào fùchū dàliàng shíjiān hé jīnglì, dàn néng ràng tā shīzhǎn cáihuá, shíxiàn zhíyè mèngxiǎng; jīnróng jīgòu zé qīngsōng xǔduō, gōngzuò wěndìng, shōurù fēnghòu, néng ràng tā guò shang shūshì de shēnghuó。xiǎo míng zuǒ yòu wéi nán, tā kěwàng zhuīqiú mèngxiǎng, dàn yě xūyào kǎolǜ xiànshí de jīngjì yā lì。tā zhǎn zhuǎn fǎncè, sīkǎo liángjiǔ, zuìzhōng háishì xuǎnzé le kē jì gōngsī, tā juéde rénshēng zài shì, yào zhuīqiú zìjǐ de lǐxiǎng, jíshǐ dàolù kǎnkě, yě yào fènyǒng qiánxíng。

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Xiaoming who received two job offers simultaneously. One was from a technology company he had long admired, and the other was from a well-paid financial institution. The technology company job was challenging, demanding a lot of time and effort but allowing him to showcase his talent and pursue his career goals. The financial institution job was easier, stable, and well-paying, providing him with a comfortable life. Xiaoming was torn between the two options. He desired to follow his dreams but also needed to consider the practical financial pressures. After much deliberation, he eventually chose the technology company, believing that one should pursue one’s ideal even if the path was arduous.

Usage

主要用于形容进退维谷的处境，难以抉择。

zhǔyào yòng yú miáoshù jìntuì wéigǔ de chǔjìng, nányǐ juézé

Mainly used to describe a situation where one is in a dilemma and has difficulty making a choice.

Examples

• 他面临着两难的选择，真是左右为难。

  tā miàn lín zhe liǎng nán de xuǎnzé, zhēnshi zuǒ yòu wéi nán。

  He faced a difficult choice, really in a dilemma.

• 公司想降低成本，又想保持高品质，左右为难。

  gōngsī xiǎng jiàngdī chéngběn, yòu xiǎng bǎochí gāo pǐnzhì, zuǒ yòu wéi nán。

  The company wants to reduce costs while maintaining high quality; they are in a difficult position

Related Idioms

• 进退两难

• 进退维谷

• 骑虎难下

Opposite Idioms

• 一帆风顺

• 轻而易举

• 势如破竹