Definition
望而却步 is a four-character idiom (成语) meaning 'to flinch or retreat when faced with something daunting'. It literally describes someone who sees something ahead and steps back in fear or hesitation. You can use it for situations, tasks, prices, or challenges that are so intimidating they make you hesitate or give up before even trying. It's a formal, literary expression common in written Chinese and news.
f.e.
to flinchto balk atto shrink back from a challenge
Examples
- 望而却步。Zhège jiàgé ràng hěnduō rén wàng ér què bù.This price makes many people flinch.
- ，望而却步。Miànduì rúcǐ fùzá de rènwu, tā méiyǒu wàng ér què bù.Faced with such a complex task, he did not flinch.
- ，望而却步。Kùnnán zài dà, wǒmen yě bù yīnggāi wàng ér què bù.No matter how great the difficulty, we should not shrink back.
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