退而求其次
Traditional form:
退而求其次
Pinyin (reading):
tuì'érqiúqícì
Definitions:
- to settle for second best
- the next best thing
Characters:
- 退 - to retreat, to step back, to withdraw
- 而 - and, and then, and yet; but
- 求 - to seek; to request, to demand; to beseech, to beg for
- 其 - his, her, its, their; that
- 次 - order, sequence; second, next; one after the other
Traditional characters: