When you're learning Chinese, you'll often hear people talk about making progress, but sometimes, unfortunately, we might experience the opposite: 退步 (tuìbù).
This verb literally means 'to retreat a step,' and it's used when someone or something falls behind, regresses, or declines. For example, if your Chinese speaking skills aren't improving, or even seem to be getting worse, you could say your speaking is 退步了 (tuìbù le). This word isn't just for language learning, though; you can use it for anything that goes backward in terms of development or skill.
So, if you notice your grades are slipping, or a company's performance is declining, 退步 is the perfect word to describe that backward movement. It’s important to acknowledge when we 退步 so we can figure out how to get back on track!
Understanding how to use 退步 (tuìbù) correctly is key to expressing regression or decline in Chinese. This word is straightforward, acting primarily as a verb. Let’s break down its common usage patterns.
§ Basic Verb Usage
The most common way to use 退步 is as a simple verb, meaning 'to fall behind,' 'to regress,' or 'to decline.' It can stand alone or take an object, though it often describes the subject's performance or condition directly.
- Structure
- Subject + 退步
他的成绩退步了。
Translation hint: His grades have declined.
最近我的中文有点退步。
Translation hint: Recently my Chinese has regressed a bit.
§ Modifying 退步 with Adverbs
You can use adverbs to describe the degree or manner of regression. Common adverbs include 很 (hěn - very), 明显 (míngxiǎn - obviously), 渐渐 (jiànjiàn - gradually), etc.
- Structure
- Subject + Adverb + 退步
她的中文水平退步得很明显。
Translation hint: Her Chinese level has declined very obviously.
他的记忆力最近渐渐退步了。
Translation hint: His memory has gradually declined recently.
§ Using 退步 with Degree Complements
You can use a degree complement after 得 (de) to further describe how a regression happened or its extent. This is a very common and natural way to express it.
- Structure
- Subject + 退步 + 得 + Adjective/Phrase
他最近学习退步得很厉害。
Translation hint: He's been falling behind severely in his studies recently.
她的身体状况退步得很快。
Translation hint: Her physical condition is declining very quickly.
§ Negating 退步
To say someone or something hasn't regressed or won't regress, use 不 (bù) or 没 (méi) before 退步. Use 不 for general negation or future events, and 没 for past events that didn't happen.
- 用 不 (bù):
你不能退步！
Translation hint: You cannot regress!
- 用 没 (méi):
幸好他没退步。
Translation hint: Luckily he didn't regress.
§ Things to Remember
退步 is a common and useful verb. Keep these points in mind for correct usage:
- It mainly describes a decline in ability, performance, or condition.
- It's often followed by 了 (le) to mark a change.
- You can use adverbs and degree complements to add detail.
- Don't confuse it with other words for 'retreat' or 'step back' like 后退 (hòutuì), which refers more to physical movement. 退步 is about a decrease in quality or level.
By practicing these structures, you'll be able to confidently use 退步 in your Chinese conversations and writing.
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我的中文最近退步了。
My Chinese recently regressed.
他的学习成绩开始退步。
His study performance started to decline.
不要怕犯错，最怕的是退步。
Don't be afraid of making mistakes; the scariest thing is falling behind.
如果你不练习，你的口语会退步。
If you don't practice, your spoken language will decline.
公司业绩有所退步。
The company's performance has regressed a bit.
她不想让自己的能力退步。
She doesn't want her skills to decline.
我们不能让环境质量退步。
We cannot let the environmental quality regress.
他的身体状况退步了。
His physical condition has declined.
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
"不进则退 (bù jìn zé tuì)"
If you don't advance, you fall behind.
学习如逆水行舟，不进则退。 (Learning is like sailing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind.)
neutral"裹足不前 (guǒ zú bù qián)"
To hesitate and not move forward; to be stagnant.
面对新挑战，我们不能裹足不前。 (Facing new challenges, we cannot hesitate and not move forward.)
neutral"每况愈下 (měi kuàng yù xià)"
To go from bad to worse; to deteriorate.
他的健康状况每况愈下。 (His health is going from bad to worse.)
neutral"江河日下 (jiāng hé rì xià)"
Rivers flow downward day by day; to decline steadily.
这个行业的景气江河日下。 (The prosperity of this industry is declining steadily.)
neutral"一落千丈 (yī luò qiān zhàng)"
To drop a thousand zhang in one fall; to suffer a sudden and sharp decline.
他的成绩一落千丈。 (His grades dropped sharply.)
neutral"每下愈况 (měi xià yù kuàng)"
To go from bad to worse; to worsen with each step.
公司业绩每下愈况，令人担忧。 (The company's performance is going from bad to worse, which is worrying.)
neutral"江郎才尽 (jiāng láng cái jìn)"
Jiang Lang's talent is exhausted; to have used up one's talent.
他最近的作品质量下降，有人说他江郎才尽了。 (The quality of his recent works has declined; some say he has used up his talent.)
neutral"日薄西山 (rì bó xī shān)"
The sun is setting in the west; to be on the decline; to be near the end.
这家老企业已经日薄西山了。 (This old enterprise is already on the decline.)
neutral"风光不再 (fēng guāng bù zài)"
The glory is no more; to have lost one's former prestige or brilliance.
曾经的冠军队如今风光不再。 (The former championship team's glory is no more.)
neutral"每况愈下 (měi kuàng yù xià)"
To go from bad to worse; to deteriorate. (Yes, this is a repeat, sometimes an idiom is just that useful for a specific context.)
他的情况每况愈下，需要尽快治疗。 (His condition is going from bad to worse and needs treatment as soon as possible.)
neutralSo verwendest du es
Usage Notes:
退步 (tuìbù) literally means "to retreat a step." It's used to describe a decrease in progress, skill, or status. You'll often hear it in contexts related to studies, work, or even physical condition.
- When talking about studies/skills: If your Chinese isn't as good as it used to be, you can say: 我的中文退步了 (Wǒ de zhōngwén tuìbù le). My Chinese has fallen behind/gotten worse.
- When talking about performance/progress: If a team's performance is getting worse, you can say: 他们的表现正在退步 (Tāmen de biǎoxiàn zhèngzài tuìbù). Their performance is declining.
- As a noun: You can also use 退步 as a noun, meaning "a regression" or "a decline." For example: 这是一种退步 (Zhè shì yī zhǒng tuìbù). This is a regression.
Common Mistakes:
- Confusing it with 倒退 (dàotuì): While both mean "to go backward," 倒退 often implies a more physical or literal backward movement (e.g., a car reversing), or a more severe, often unwanted, reversal of progress. 退步 is more about a decrease in quality or skill.
- Incorrect: 这辆车正在退步 (Zhè liàng chē zhèngzài tuìbù). (This car is regressing.)
- Correct: 这辆车正在倒退 (Zhè liàng chē zhèngzài dàotuì). (This car is reversing.)
- Using it for something that simply stopped improving: 退步 implies a decline, not just a lack of improvement. If something isn't getting better, but also isn't getting worse, 退步 isn't the right word.
Teste dich selbst 42 Fragen
Write a short sentence about someone improving in their studies, but then explain why they might regress. Use simple Chinese words you know.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
他学习很努力，所以进步很快。但是如果他放松，可能会退步。
Imagine you are playing a game and your score is getting lower. Write a sentence saying your score is declining. Use '退步'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我的游戏分数在退步。
Your friend used to be very good at something, but now they are not as good. Write a sentence saying they have regressed in that skill. Use '退步'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
他以前唱歌很好，但是现在退步了。
小明为什么会退步？
Read this passage:
小明喜欢画画。他每天都练习。他的画画水平进步了。但是他生病了，好几天没画画。现在他的画画有点退步了。
小明为什么会退步？
文章中说“他生病了，好几天没画画。现在他的画画有点退步了。”
文章中说“他生病了，好几天没画画。现在他的画画有点退步了。”
这个公司发生了什么？
Read this passage:
这个公司的生意越来越不好。去年赚了很多钱，今年赚的很少。公司的发展在退步。
这个公司发生了什么？
文章中说“这个公司的生意越来越不好...公司的发展在退步。”
文章中说“这个公司的生意越来越不好...公司的发展在退步。”
怎样才能不退步？
Read this passage:
学习中文需要多练习。如果你不练习，你的中文水平可能会退步。每天说一点，写一点，会进步。
怎样才能不退步？
文章中说“如果你不练习，你的中文水平可能会退步。每天说一点，写一点，会进步。”
文章中说“如果你不练习，你的中文水平可能会退步。每天说一点，写一点，会进步。”
Choose the sentence where '退步' is used correctly.
'退步' refers to a decline in skill, performance, or condition. Option A correctly uses it to describe a decline in grades. The other options use '退步' in contexts where it doesn't fit naturally.
Which of the following situations best describes someone who has '退步'?
'退步' means to fall behind or regress. Option B clearly shows a regression in swimming ability. The other options describe improvement or stable good performance.
If someone says '我的中文最近有点儿退步了', what do they mean?
'退步' indicates a decline. So, '我的中文最近有点儿退步了' means their Chinese language skills have gotten worse.
如果一个学生的成绩越来越差，我们可以说他退步了。(If a student's grades are getting worse and worse, we can say he has declined.)
To '退步' means to regress or decline. If grades are getting worse, it directly means there's a decline.
每天坚持练习可以避免退步。(Persisting in practice every day can avoid decline.)
Consistent practice helps maintain and improve skills, thereby preventing regression or '退步'.
一个人进步了，说明他退步了。(If a person has improved, it means they have declined.)
'进步' (to improve) is the opposite of '退步' (to decline). So, if someone has improved, they have not declined.
This sentence means 'He has regressed a bit in his studies recently.' The common structure is Subject + Time + Adverb + Verb.
This sentence means 'Because she was sick, her grades declined.' '因为...所以...' is a common structure for cause and effect.
This sentence means 'If you don't work hard, you will fall behind.' '如果...会...的' indicates a conditional outcome.
Pay attention to the degree of regression.
Listen for the consequence of not innovating.
Identify the advice given regarding setbacks.
Read this aloud:
别退步，要继续努力！
Focus: biié tuì bù, yào jì xù nǔ lì!
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我担心我的中文会退步。
Focus: wǒ dān xīn wǒ de zhōng wén huì tuì bù.
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
他的成绩一直在退步。
Focus: tā de chéng jì yì zhí zài tuì bù.
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
他以前学习很好，最近有点___。
Contextually, '学习不好' (studying poorly) suggests a decline, so '退步' (to fall behind/regress) is the most suitable choice. '进步' means progress, '发展' means development, and '提高' means improvement.
公司业绩持续___，管理层需要采取紧急措施。
If '管理层需要采取紧急措施' (management needs to take urgent measures), it implies a negative trend. '退步' (to decline) fits this context best. '上升' means rising, '稳定' means stable, and '增长' means growth.
如果你不努力练习，你的中文水平可能会___。
The phrase '不努力练习' (don't practice hard) suggests a negative outcome for one's Chinese level. '退步' (to regress/decline) is the appropriate word here. '提高' means improve, '进步' means progress, and '保持' means maintain.
一个人如果常常复习，他的记忆力就不会退步。
Regular review generally helps maintain or improve memory, preventing it from declining or regressing. So, this statement is true.
经济退步意味着经济正在快速发展。
'经济退步' (economic decline) is the opposite of '经济快速发展' (rapid economic development). Therefore, this statement is false.
运动员因为受伤，训练减少，所以他的表现有所退步。
If an athlete is injured and trains less, it's very likely their performance would decline or regress. This statement is true.
Is there any regression in your studies recently?
I'm worried my Chinese level will decline.
The company's performance has declined, we need to find the reason.
Read this aloud:
虽然遇到挫折，但我们绝不能退步。
Focus: 退步 (tuìbù)
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
如果你不努力，成绩就会退步。
Focus: 退步 (tuìbù)
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
经过努力，他的病情没有退步反而好转了。
Focus: 退步 (tuìbù)
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The speaker is talking about how to face setbacks.
The speaker is discussing someone's academic performance.
The speaker is talking about company strategy.
Read this aloud:
如果你不努力，就会退步。
Focus: 退步 (tuìbù)
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
这个国家的经济正在退步。
Focus: 正在退步 (zhèngzài tuìbù)
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我们不能让技术退步。
Focus: 不能让 (bùnéng ràng)
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
Beispiel
他最近学习有点退步。
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