Definition
走回头路 is a fixed verb-object phrase meaning 'to backtrack' — both literally (to go back along the same road) and figuratively (to revert to an earlier decision, policy, or course of action). It's a separable verb (离合词): the verb 走 can separate from the object 回头路 when inserting aspect markers, measure words, or modifiers — e.g. 走过一次回头路 ('have backtracked once'). You'll often hear it in discussions about reform, progress, or personal decisions.
v.o.
to backtrackto retrace one's steps (literal or figurative)
Examples
- 走回头路。Tāmen juédìng bú zài zǒu huí tóu lù.They decided not to backtrack again.
- ,。Zài zhège wèntí shàng, wǒmen bù néng zǒu huí tóu lù.On this issue, we cannot backtrack.
- ,。Zhèngfǔ yǐjīng zǒu guò yí cì huí tóu lù le, bù néng zài fàn tóngyàng de cuòwù.The government has backtracked once before; it cannot make the same mistake again.
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