# 得寸进尺

dé cùn jìn chǐ

Demand more after receiving a concession

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Gain an inch and seek a foot

**Traditional Chinese:** 得寸進尺

**Register:** Critical · general

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Criticize escalating demands beyond a reasonable allowance.

Growth itself is not wrong; the phrase targets unreasonable encroachment.

## Understanding the expression

An initial inch does not satisfy the person, who immediately seeks a much larger measure. The expression describes someone treating a concession as an invitation to push further. It often appears in disputes about favors, boundaries, or bargaining. The criticism depends on unreasonable escalation rather than merely wanting progress. A clear sentence shows what was granted and what excessive new demand followed, making the breach of proportion easy to understand.

## Examples

让他晚交一天，他却得寸进尺要求一周。

### Traditional Chinese

讓他晚交一天，他卻得寸進尺要求一週。

ràng tā wǎn jiāo yì tiān ， tā què dé cùn jìn chǐ yāo qiú yì zhōu 。

Given one extra day, he demanded a whole week.

你越迁就，他越得寸进尺。

### Traditional Chinese

你越遷就，他越得寸進尺。

nǐ yuè qiān jiù ， tā yuè dé cùn jìn chǐ 。

The more you accommodate him, the more he demands.

商家得寸进尺，又增加了收费。

### Traditional Chinese

商家得寸進尺，又增加了收費。

shāng jiā dé cùn jìn chǐ ， yòu zēng jiā le shōu fèi 。

The business pushed further and added another fee.

她拒绝了室友得寸进尺的要求。

### Traditional Chinese

她拒絕了室友得寸進尺的要求。

tā jù jué le shì yǒu dé cùn jìn chǐ de yāo qiú 。

She refused her roommate's increasingly unreasonable demand.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%BE%97%E5%AF%B8%E9%80%B2%E5%B0%BA)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=456&webMd=1&la=0)

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