bù​jìn​zé​tuì

move forward or fall behind

Senses

不进则退/ 不進則退 bù​jìn​zé​tuì move forward or fall behind

to fall back if one does not keep moving forward; progress or perish; if you do not advance, you will regress

References

see 逆水行舟/逆水行舟 不进则退/不進則退
synonym 学如逆水行舟/學如逆水行舟 不进则退/不進則退