tiến thoái lưỡng nan
phrase Sino-Vietnamese
Hanoi [tiən˧˦ tʰwaːj˧˦ lɨəŋ˦ˀ˥ naːn˧˧]Huế [tiəŋ˦˧˥ tʰwaːj˨˩˦ lɨəŋ˧˨ naːŋ˧˧]Saigon [tiəŋ˦˥ tʰ⁽ʷ⁾aːj˦˥ lɨəŋ˨˩˦ naːŋ˧˧] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
tiến thoái lưỡng nan means a dilemma.
Chinese characters: 進退兩難
Meanings of tiến thoái lưỡng nan in English
Phrase
- between a rock and a hard place; a dilemma.
- literal it's difficult either to advance or to retreat.
Etymology
Sino-Vietnamese word from 進退兩難.
Frequently asked questions
What does tiến thoái lưỡng nan mean in English?
tiến thoái lưỡng nan (phrase) means "a dilemma".
How do you pronounce tiến thoái lưỡng nan?
IPA: Hanoi [tiən˧˦ tʰwaːj˧˦ lɨəŋ˦ˀ˥ naːn˧˧]; Saigon [tiəŋ˦˥ tʰ⁽ʷ⁾aːj˦˥ lɨəŋ˨˩˦ naːŋ˧˧]. Tones: tiến — rising tone (sắc), thoái — rising tone (sắc), lưỡng — creaky rising tone (ngã), nan — level tone (ngang).
Is tiến thoái lưỡng nan a Sino-Vietnamese word?
Yes. tiến thoái lưỡng nan is a Sino-Vietnamese word from the Chinese characters 進退兩難.