不进则退 meaning in English
move forward, or you'll fall behind.; complacency marks the start of regress.; either advancement or drawing back; either one goes forward or he will be left behind.; no advance for someone means falling back; no progress means retrogression; not to advance is to go back.; one either forges ahead or gradually falls behind
Examples
- He who does not advance loses ground .
不进则退。 - A boat sailing against the current must forge ahead or it will be driven back .
逆水行舟，不进则退。 - Study is like sailing against the current ; either you keep forging ahead or you keep falling behind .
学如逆水行舟，不进则退。 - As the proverb says : he who does not advance loses ground
古语云：逆水行舟，不进则退。 - Learning is like rowing upstream ; not to adance is to dropback
学习如逆水行舟，不进则退。