知難而退

to sound out the difficulties and retreat to avoid defeat (idiom); fig. to back out of an awkward situation / to get out on finding out what it's really like

lit. to sound out the difficulties and retreat to avoid defeat (idiom) / fig. to back out of an awkward situation; to get out on finding out what it's really like

and / as well as / and so / but (not) / yet (not) / (indicates causal relation) / (indicates change of state) / (indicates contrast)

to know / to be aware

to retreat / to decline / to move back / to withdraw

to retreat; to withdraw / to reject; to return (sth) / to decline

difficult (to...) / problem / difficulty / difficult / not good

disaster / distress / to scold