# 瞻前顾后

zhān qián gù hòu

Weigh consequences, sometimes too hesitantly

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Look ahead and look behind

**Traditional Chinese:** 瞻前顧後

**Register:** Standard · expressive

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

## When to use it

Describe caution before acting.

Context distinguishes prudence from indecision.

## Understanding the expression

Looking both ahead and behind suggests checking what an action might bring and what it might leave exposed. This can be sensible care, especially when a choice affects other people. In criticism, however, it describes someone so worried about possible consequences that action stalls. The expression’s tone depends on the surrounding sentence. Ask whether the checking improves a decision or merely postpones a decision that already has enough support.

## Examples

他瞻前顾后，迟迟不报名。

### Traditional Chinese

他瞻前顧後，遲遲不報名。

tā zhān qián gù hòu ， chí chí bú bào míng 。

He kept weighing worries and delayed signing up.

重大投资需要瞻前顾后。

### Traditional Chinese

重大投資需要瞻前顧後。

zhòng dà tóu zī xū yào zhān qián gù hòu 。

A major investment requires considering consequences carefully.

她不再瞻前顾后，决定出发。

### Traditional Chinese

她不再瞻前顧後，決定出發。

tā bú zài zhān qián gù hòu ， jué dìng chū fā 。

She stopped hesitating and decided to set out.

他做事瞻前顾后，很少冒险。

### Traditional Chinese

他做事瞻前顧後，很少冒險。

tā zuò shì zhān qián gù hòu ， hěn shǎo mào xiǎn 。

He considers consequences carefully and rarely takes risks.

## 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=%E7%9E%BB%E5%89%8D%E9%A1%A7%E5%BE%8C)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=728&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [朝秦暮楚 zhāo qín mù chǔ Switch loyalties or choices opportunistically ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zhao-qin-mu-chu)

- [朝三暮四 zhāo sān mù sì Keep changing one's mind or commitments ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zhao-san-mu-si)

- [正中下怀 zhèng zhòng xià huái Be exactly what one secretly or especially wants ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zheng-zhong-xia-huai)

- [知难而退 zhī nán ér tuì Step back after recognizing the difficulty ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zhi-nan-er-tui)

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