Meanings of 后退
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Podcast: 后退
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AI Study Notes for 后退
后退 (hòutuì) vs 退 (tuì): use 后退 when emphasizing the action of moving backward in a physical or metaphorical sense, while 退 can be a more general term for retreating without the same emphasis on direction.
Learners often confuse 后退 with 前进 (qián jìn), which means 'to advance.' Remember that 后退 is used when discussing retreating or withdrawing. Be cautious of tone shifts; the second character 退 must be pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone) to maintain its meaning.
Although 后退 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it ties into HSK 3 words related to movement, such as 走 (zǒu, to walk) and 走路 (zǒu lù, to walk). Focus on the context of movement and how to express directions or actions involving retreating.
Learners may mistakenly use 前退 (qián tuì), which is not a correct term in Mandarin. Instead, they should use 后退 when referring to moving backward. A common error is saying '我前退' instead of '我后退' to mean 'I moved back.'
Pronunciation of 后退
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Component Characters
How to say to recoil in Chinese
“to recoil” in Chinese is后退
后退 (hòu tuì) means to move backward or to retreat. This term is commonly used in both physical contexts, such as stepping back from something, and metaphorical contexts, such as withdrawing from a situation or decision. It conveys a sense of moving away from a position or situation rather than advancing.
When to use 后退
Learners often confuse 后退 with 前进 (qián jìn), which means 'to advance.' Remember that 后退 is used when discussing retreating or withdrawing. Be cautious of tone shifts; the second character 退 must be pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone) to maintain its meaning.
后退 or something close to it
后退 (hòutuì) vs 退 (tuì): use 后退 when emphasizing the action of moving backward in a physical or metaphorical sense, while 退 can be a more general term for retreating without the same emphasis on direction.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly use 前退 (qián tuì), which is not a correct term in Mandarin. Instead, they should use 后退 when referring to moving backward. A common error is saying '我前退' instead of '我后退' to mean 'I moved back.'
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Frequently Asked Questions about 后退
You can say '他后退了几步' (tā hòu tuì le jǐ bù) which means 'He stepped back a few steps.'
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