# 骑虎难下

qí hǔ nán xià

Be unable to withdraw from a difficult course

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Ride a tiger and struggle to dismount

**Traditional Chinese:** 騎虎難下

**Register:** Troubled · general

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Describe being trapped by an earlier commitment.

Does not mean every unfinished task.

## Understanding the expression

A person riding a tiger cannot simply step down without facing danger. Continuing is risky, but stopping is risky too. The phrase captures a dilemma created by actions already taken, such as a public promise or an expensive venture. It often suggests that the person entered too easily and now feels trapped. The central point is the difficulty of withdrawing, not the original ambition alone.

## Examples

话已说满，他骑虎难下。

### Traditional Chinese

話已說滿，他騎虎難下。

huà yǐ shuō mǎn ， tā qí hǔ nán xià 。

His bold claims left him unable to back down.

投入太多资金，我们骑虎难下。

### Traditional Chinese

投入太多資金，我們騎虎難下。

tóu rù tài duō zī jīn ， wǒ men qí hǔ nán xià 。

Having invested so much, we cannot easily withdraw.

她答应主持后骑虎难下。

### Traditional Chinese

她答應主持後騎虎難下。

tā dā ying zhǔ chí hòu qí hǔ nán xià 。

After agreeing to host, she found it hard to back out.

这个计划让团队骑虎难下。

### Traditional Chinese

這個計劃讓團隊騎虎難下。

zhè ge jì huà ràng tuán duì qí hǔ nán xià 。

This plan has trapped the team in a difficult commitment.

## 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=%E9%A8%8E%E8%99%8E%E9%9B%A3%E4%B8%8B)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=70&webMd=1&la=0)

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