打退堂鼓

Traditional form:

打退堂鼓

Pinyin (reading):

dǎtuìtánggǔ

Definitions:

• lit. to beat the return drum (idiom)
• fig. to give up
• to turn tail

Characters:

• 打 - to attack, to beat, to hit, to strike
• 退 - to retreat, to step back, to withdraw
• 堂 - hall, large room; government office; cousins
• 鼓 - drum; to beat, to strike; to rouse

Traditional characters:

• 打 - to attack, to beat, to hit, to strike
• 退 - to retreat, to step back, to withdraw
• 堂 - hall, large room; government office; cousins
• 鼓 - drum; to beat, to strike; to rouse