尺蠖之屈
chǐ​huò​zhī​qū

temporary setback

  • created sense approved 尺蠖之屈 · chǐ​huò​zhī​qū · temporary setback — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    尺蠖之屈

    chǐ​huò​zhī​qū

    temporary setback

    Literally meaning the coiling of an inchworm; used to describe a temporary retreat or submission intended as preparation for a future expansion or success. This idiom suggests making a small sacrifice or enduring a setback in order to succeed later.

    尺蠖 (literal) → 尺蠖 · chǐ​huò · inchworm 之 (literal) → 之 · zhī · [possessive] 屈 (literal) → 屈 · qū · to bend

    Changed: simplified, traditional, gloss, definition, pinyin, variant pinyin, variants, separable parts, decomposition

    created sense