瞻前顾后
zhān​qián​gù​hòu

to think over carefully

  1. 瞻 zhān
    to gaze
    (bound form) to look forward or look up; to view; to gaze
  2. 前 qián locativenoun
    front
    (bound form) front; forward; ahead; facing direction. Use 前边 qián​bian or 前面 qián​miàn for the standalone noun.
  3. 顾 顧 gù verb
    to look back
    (bound form) to turn one's head and look; to look around
  4. 后 後 hòu locativenoun
    behind
    (bound form) back; rear; behind; in the direction of one's back