进退失据 jìn tuì shī jù at a loss

Explanation

形容进退两难，不知如何是好的状态。

Describes a state of being at a loss as to what to do.

Origin Story

话说汉朝时期，有个名叫张良的谋士，辅佐汉高祖刘邦打败项羽，建立了汉朝。张良深谋远虑，足智多谋，为汉朝的建立立下了汗马功劳。然而，在项羽被灭之后，张良也面临着进退失据的困境。一方面，他深知自己辅助刘邦建立了功业，应该得到相应的赏赐和尊敬。另一方面，他内心深处也渴望过平静的生活，远离朝廷的纷争。汉高祖刘邦多次想重用张良，让他担任重要的官职，但张良总以各种理由推脱，甚至假装生病，以此来避免接受官职。但他又不能完全远离刘邦，因为他知道，自己拥有丰富的经验和智慧，如果自己离开，可能会对汉朝的治理产生不利的影响。刘邦对张良的才能十分欣赏，却又无法理解他隐退的意图。张良进退失据，最终选择了一个折中的办法：他向刘邦请辞，并请求前往泰山隐居，专心修道。刘邦最终同意了他的请求，并对他表示了尊重和理解。张良选择隐退，这在当时是一个非常大胆的决定。他放弃了荣华富贵，选择远离权力中心，过着与世无争的生活，这体现了他超凡脱俗的品质和高尚的境界。张良的故事，给我们留下了深刻的启示：在面临人生抉择的时候，我们应该仔细权衡利弊，选择最适合自己的道路，不要因为进退失据而迷失方向。

hua shuo han chao shiqi, you ge ming jiao zhang liang de moushi, fuzuo han gaozu liu bang daba xiang yu, jianlile han chao. zhang liang shenmou yuanlv, zhizhi duomou, wei han chao de jianli lixia le hanma gonglao. ran'er, zai xiang yu bei mie zhihou, zhang liang ye mianlinzhe jintui shiju de kunjing. yifangmian, ta shen zhi zijifu zhu liubang jianlile gongye, yinggai dedao xiangying de shangci he zunzhong. ling yifangmian, ta neixin shenchu ye ke wang guo pingjing de shenghuo, yuanli chao ting de fenzheng. han gaozu liubang duoci xiang chongyong zhang liang, rang ta danren zhongyao de guan zhi, dan zhang liang zong yi gezhong liyou tuotuo, shen zhi jiazhuang shengbing, yici lai bimian jieshou guan zhi. dan ta you buneng wanquan yuanli liubang, yinwei ta zhi dao, ziji yongyou fengfu de jingyan he zhihui, ruguo ziji likai, keneng dui han chao de zhili chan sheng buli de yingxiang. liubang dui zhang liang de cainei fen xinshang, que you wufa lijie ta yintui de yitu. zhang liang jintui shiju, zhongyu xuanze le yige zhezhong de banfa: ta xiang liubang qingci, bing qingqiu qianwang taishan yinju, zhuanxin xiudao. liubang zhongyu tongyi le ta de qingqiu, bing dui ta biaoshi le zunzhong he lijie. zhang liang xuanze yintui, zhe zai dangshi shi yige feichang dadan de jueding. ta fangqile ronghua fugui, xuanze yuanli quanli zhongxin, guozhe yu shi wu zheng de shenghuo, zhe tixian le ta chaofan tuoshu de pinzhi he gaoshang de jingjie. zhang liang de gushi, gei women liu xia le shenkeche de qishi: zai mianlin rensheng jueze de shihou, women yinggai zixizai quanheng libi, xuanze zui shihe zijide daolu, buyao yinwei jintui shiju er mishidianghang.

During the Han Dynasty, there was a strategist named Zhang Liang who assisted Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang in defeating Xiang Yu and establishing the Han Dynasty. Zhang Liang was wise and resourceful, and he made great contributions to the founding of the Han Dynasty. However, after the defeat of Xiang Yu, Zhang Liang also faced a dilemma. On the one hand, he knew that he had assisted Liu Bang in establishing his merits and should receive corresponding rewards and respect. On the other hand, he secretly longed for a peaceful life, far from the court's disputes. Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang repeatedly wanted to reuse Zhang Liang, appointing him to important positions, but Zhang Liang always made excuses to shirk responsibility, even pretending to be ill to avoid accepting official positions. However, he could not completely stay away from Liu Bang, because he knew that he possessed rich experience and wisdom. If he left, it might have an adverse impact on the governance of the Han Dynasty. Liu Bang greatly appreciated Zhang Liang's talents, yet he could not understand his intention to retire. Zhang Liang, caught in this dilemma, finally chose a compromise: he asked Liu Bang to resign and requested to go to Mount Taishan to live in seclusion and devote himself to cultivating Daoism. Liu Bang eventually agreed to his request and showed him respect and understanding. Zhang Liang's choice to retire was a very bold decision at the time. He gave up wealth and honor and chose to stay away from the center of power to live a life free from worldly disputes. This demonstrated his extraordinary qualities and high moral character. Zhang Liang's story leaves us with a profound lesson: When facing life's choices, we should carefully weigh the pros and cons and choose the path that is most suitable for us. We should not lose our way because of uncertainty about our next step.

Usage

通常用于形容人在进退之间难以抉择的境地。

tongchang yongyu xingrong renzai jintui zhijian nan yi jueze de jingdi

Usually used to describe the situation where one is in a dilemma and cannot decide between two options.

Examples

• 他进退失据，不知如何是好。

  ta jintui shiju, buzhi ruhe shi hao

  He was at a loss as to what to do.

• 面对突如其来的变故，他进退失据，手足无措。

  mian dui turuqilai de biangu, ta jintui shiju, shouzu wucuo

  Faced with a sudden change, he was at a loss and helpless.

• 公司面临倒闭，员工们进退失据，人心惶惶。

  gongsi mianlin daobi, yuangongmen jintui shiju, renxin huang huang

  With the company facing bankruptcy, the employees were at a loss, and panic prevailed.

Related Idioms

• 左右为难

• 进退两难

• 无所适从

Opposite Idioms

• 从容不迫

• 进退有度