逆水行舟，不进则退 nìshuǐxíngzhōubùjìnzétuì to go against the current Origin Definitions Defs Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 学如逆水行舟，不进则退 xuérúnìshuǐxíngzhōubùjìnzétuì study is like rowing upstream Learning is like rowing a boat against the current; if you do not move forward, you will fall back.