畏缩 wèisuō to cower
to cower; to flinch; to quail; to recoil
How to remember 畏缩: 畏 fear + 缩 to withdraw = to cower.
Characters
How it is used
- To shrink back / cower from fear - 遇到困难就畏缩 (yùdào kùnnan jiù wèisuō) to flinch the moment trouble appears.
- Describes timid recoiling and shirking, morally tinged as cowardice: 畏缩不前 (wèisuō bùqián) to hang back afraid.
- Contrast 勇往直前 (yǒngwǎng zhíqián, to press bravely forward); 畏缩 is the opposite posture.