前不着村，后不着店

Traditional form:

前不著村，後不著店

Pinyin (reading):

qiánbùzháocūn,hòubùzháodiàn

Definitions:

• lit. no village ahead and no inn behind (idiom)
• fig. to be stranded in the middle of nowhere
• to be in a predicament

Characters:

• 前 - in front, forward; former, preceding
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 着 - to make a move, to take action
• 村 - village, hamlet; vulgar, uncouth
• 后 - after; behind, rear; descendants
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 着 - to make a move, to take action
• 店 - shop, store; inn, hotel

Traditional characters:

• 前 - in front, forward; former, preceding
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 著 - to show, to prove, to make known
• 村 - village, hamlet; vulgar, uncouth
• 後 - after; behind, rear; descendants
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 著 - to show, to prove, to make known
• 店 - shop, store; inn, hotel