A2 Collocation Neutre 2 min de lecture

倒退

To rewind

Littéralement: 倒 (dào) - upside down/backwards + 退 (tuì) - retreat/move back

Use `倒退` when something is moving backward or getting worse instead of progressing.

En 15 secondes

  • To move backward physically or metaphorically.
  • Used for rewinding videos or reversing cars.
  • Describes a decline in progress or quality.

Signification

It literally means to move backward or regress. You use it to describe a video rewinding, a car reversing, or even a country's economy getting worse.

Exemples clés

3 sur 6
1

Watching a movie

把视频往回倒退一点。

Rewind the video a little bit.

😊
2

Discussing the economy

如果不改革,经济就会倒退。

If we don't reform, the economy will regress.

💼
3

Driving a car

车子正在慢慢倒退。

The car is slowly reversing.

😊
🌍

Contexte culturel

The term gained modern popularity with the advent of cassette tapes and VCRs in 1980s China. Culturally, it is often used in social critiques to lament a perceived loss of traditional values or a dip in economic stability.

💡

Media Control

If you are watching a movie with Chinese friends, just say '倒退' to ask them to skip back to a part you missed.

⚠️

Not for Returns

Don't use this at a store to return a shirt! Use '退货' (tuìhuò) instead.

En 15 secondes

  • To move backward physically or metaphorically.
  • Used for rewinding videos or reversing cars.
  • Describes a decline in progress or quality.

What It Means

倒退 is all about going in the opposite direction of progress. Think of a movie scene playing in reverse. Or a car backing out of a driveway. It covers physical movement and abstract concepts like history or skills.

How To Use It

Use it as a verb. You can say a situation is 倒退. It often pairs with (towards) or (completed action). It is simple and direct. You don't need fancy grammar to make it work. Just point out what is going backward.

When To Use It

Use it when your internet speed feels like 1995. Use it when a politician makes a really old-school decision. It is perfect for describing technology or social trends. If you are watching a video and want to go back, this is your word. It feels natural in both serious debates and casual venting.

When NOT To Use It

Don't use it for a simple 'no' or 'refusal'. It is not for 'returning' a gift to a store. That would be 退货. Also, don't use it for 'repaying' money. It specifically implies a backward motion or a decline in quality. If you just stepped back to avoid a puddle, use 后退 instead.

Cultural Background

In China, progress is a huge deal. People often talk about 进步 (progress). So, 倒退 carries a bit of a sting. It suggests things are getting worse, not just moving back. It became very common with the rise of digital media players. Everyone had to learn the 倒退 button on their remotes!

Common Variations

倒退 is the standard. You might hear 退步 for someone's grades or skills. For a car, you might hear 倒车. But 倒退 remains the king of describing a general 'backward' trend. It is the most versatile way to say 'we are going the wrong way'.

Notes d'usage

It is a neutral-to-formal word. It is safe to use in almost any context where something is literally or figuratively moving backward.

💡

Media Control

If you are watching a movie with Chinese friends, just say '倒退' to ask them to skip back to a part you missed.

⚠️

Not for Returns

Don't use this at a store to return a shirt! Use '退货' (tuìhuò) instead.

💬

The 'Reverse' Insult

Calling someone's thinking '倒退' is a common way to say they are being old-fashioned or regressive.

Exemples

6
#1 Watching a movie
😊

把视频往回倒退一点。

Rewind the video a little bit.

Commonly used for digital or physical media.

#2 Discussing the economy
💼

如果不改革,经济就会倒退。

If we don't reform, the economy will regress.

Used here for abstract social concepts.

#3 Driving a car
😊

车子正在慢慢倒退。

The car is slowly reversing.

Describes physical movement of a vehicle.

#4 Complaining about life
😄

我的生活水平倒退了十年!

My standard of living has regressed by ten years!

Hyperbolic use to show frustration.

#5 Historical discussion
👔

历史不会倒退。

History will not move backward.

A common philosophical or political statement.

#6 Relationship talk
💭

我们的关系好像在倒退。

Our relationship feels like it's going backward.

Expressing a decline in emotional connection.

Teste-toi

Choose the correct word to describe a video going back.

请把进度条向___拉一点。

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 倒退

`倒退` is used for moving a progress bar backward.

Complete the sentence about a country's development.

这个国家的社会文明正在___。

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 倒退

`倒退` describes the regression of abstract concepts like civilization.

🎉 Score : /2

Aides visuelles

Formality of '倒退'

Casual

Rewinding a YouTube video.

倒退一下。

Neutral

Talking about a car reversing.

车在倒退。

Formal

Discussing national regression.

社会在倒退。

When to use '倒退'

倒退

Video player

Rewinding 10 seconds

🚗

Driving

Backing out of a spot

📉

Economy

GDP dropping

🏛️

History

Losing progress

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, but 向后退 (xiàng hòu tuì) is more common for physical steps. 倒退 sounds a bit more like a vehicle or a process.

Usually, yes. Unless you are just talking about rewinding a video, it usually implies things are getting worse.

退步 is specifically for skills or grades (e.g., 'My Chinese is getting worse'). 倒退 is for movement or general trends.

You say 倒带 (dào dài), but 倒退 works for the action of the video moving back.

Yes, it is perfectly fine for formal contexts like 经济倒退 (economic regression).

No, it is a standard dictionary word used in everyday life and news.

No, it never means to cancel an appointment or a plan.

Yes! You can say 时光倒退 (time moving backward) in sci-fi contexts.

The opposite is 前进 (qiánjìn), which means to move forward or progress.

No, 'undo' is usually 撤销 (chèxiāo). 倒退 is for the movement.

Expressions liées

退步 (tuìbù) - to fall behind in skills

后退 (hòutuì) - to step back

倒车 (dàochē) - to reverse a car

前进 (qiánjìn) - to move forward

撤退 (chètuì) - to retreat

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