臨陣退縮 lín zhèn tuì suō

DEFINITIONS

  1. to shrink back as the time for battle approaches (idiom)
  2. to get cold feet

CHARACTERS

臨 lín draw near, approach; descend
陣 zhèn column, row or file of troops
退 tuì
HSK 5
step back, retreat, withdraw
縮 suō contract, draw in, reduce