前不著村，後不著店 qián bù zháo cūn ， hòu bù zháo diàn

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. no village ahead and no inn behind (idiom)
  2. fig. to be stranded in the middle of nowhere
  3. to be in a predicament

CHARACTERS

前 qián
HSK 1
in front, forward; preceding
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
著 zháo
HSK 4
manifest; (Cant.) to wear
村 cūn
HSK 5
village, hamlet; uncouth, vulgar
後 hòu behind, rear, after; descendents
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
著 zháo
HSK 4
manifest; (Cant.) to wear
店 diàn
HSK 1
shop, store; inn, hotel