前不着村，后不着店 in English qian2 bu4 zhao2 cun1 , hou4 bu4 zhao2 dian4 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) no village ahead and no inn behind (idiomatic expression)
  • metaphorically to be stranded in the middle of nowhere
  • to be in a predicament

Simplified Characters

前 不 着 村 ， 后 不 着 店

Traditional Characters

前 不 著 村 ， 後 不 著 店

Pinyin

qian2 bu4 zhao2 cun1 , hou4 bu4 zhao2 dian4

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

前qian2front 不bu4(negative prefix) 着zhe5(chess) move 村cun1village ， 后hou4surname Hou 不bu4(negative prefix) 着zhe5(chess) move 店dian4inn