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進退中繩

简进退中绳 · 繁進退中繩

Mandarin · pinyin jìn tuì zhōng shéng

to advance or retreat, each has its rules (idiom from Zhuangzi); many translations are possible

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Characters in this entry

進: jìn · advance, make progress, enter
退: tuì · step back, retreat, withdraw
中: zhōng · central; center, middle; in the midst of; hit (target); attain
繩: Look up this written character
进: jìn · advance, make progress, enter
绳: shéng · rope, string, cord; control

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

4–4–1–2 · jin4 tui4 zhong1 sheng2

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

進退中繩 · find source passages ↗ · 进退中绳 · find source passages ↗

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