Kumi logo
    Kumi

    Learn Japanese. Where understanding folds into fluency.

    Dictionary

    KanjiKanji vocabularyKana vocabularyKanaRadicalsGrammarJLPT N5

    Learn

    GuidesStart where you areWhat is KMT?RoadmapFAQ

    Connect

    EmailDiscordInstagramThreadsTikTokYouTubeLinkedInBlueskyX

    Newsletter

    Start learning free →

    Free forever tier. No card required.

    © 2026 Kumiai Inc. All rights reserved.

    AboutFAQContactStatusPrivacyTermsAttributions
    Dictionary
    1. Dictionary
    2. Kanji Vocab
    3. 進退両難

    進退両難

    進しん退たい両りょう難なん

    being driven to the wall

    NTNounEmotions & PsychologyKanji Vocab44 strokes

    しんたいりょうなん

    Noun

    1.
    being driven to the wall, finding oneself between the devil and the deep blue sea, finding oneself between a rock and a hard place
    yojijukugo

    Stroke 0 / 44

    Speed1.0x

    Kanji that make up this word

    進
    すす.む・すす.める…(2)
    advance・proceed・progress・promote
    退
    しりぞ.く・しりぞ.ける・ひ.く・の.く・の.ける・ど.く…(1)
    retreat・withdraw・retire・resign・repel…(2)
    両
    てる・ふたつ…(2)
    both・old Japanese coin・counter for carriages (e.g., in a train)・two
    難
    かた.い・-がた.い・むずか.しい・むづか.しい・むつか.しい・-にく.い…(3)
    difficult・impossible・trouble・accident・defect
    Kumi logo

    Track your mastery

    Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

    Related concepts for this entry

    Used in vocabulary

    • 進
    • 退
    • 両
    • 難

    Explore more

    Kanji Vocab dictionary›Browse all entries›