知難而退 zhī nán ér tuì

DEFINITIONS

  1. to sound out the difficulties and retreat to avoid defeat (idiom); fig. to back out of an awkward situation
  2. to get out on finding out what it's really like

CHARACTERS

知 zhī
HSK 2
know, perceive, comprehend
難 nán difficult, arduous, hard; unable
而 ér
HSK 3
and; and then; and yet; but
退 tuì
HSK 5
step back, retreat, withdraw