退避三舍 tuì bì sān shè

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to retreat three day's march (idiom); fig. to give way in the face of superior strength
  2. a strategic withdrawal

CHARACTERS

退 tuì step back, retreat, withdraw
避 bì avoid; turn aside; escape; hide
三 sān three
舍 shè house, dwelling; dwell, reside