遯 (dùn) - To retreat & to withdraw

遯Tone 4

dùn ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

丁恩

遯 · dùn

To retreat;

to withdraw;

to escape;

to hide.

Classical variant of 遁 with the same meaning, often used in classical texts and philosophy.

To retreatto withdrawto escape

Usage highlights

To retreat from the worldTo escape and hideTo flee and disappearTo withdraw from societyTo escape calamityTo hide one's traces

Synonyms

  • 遁— to escape, to flee (more common modern variant)
  • 退— to retreat, to withdraw
  • 逃— to escape, to flee

Antonyms

  • 进— to advance, to move forward
  • 攻— to attack, to assault
  • 追— to pursue, to chase

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The wise retreat when necessary (君子遯世).
  • He withdrew from worldly affairs (遯入空门).
  • The army made a strategic retreat (军队遯走).

Collocations

  • To retreat from the world(遯世)
  • To escape and hide(遯匿)
  • To flee and disappear(遯逸)
  • To withdraw from society(遯迹)
  • To escape calamity(遯灾)
  • To hide one's traces(遯形)

Idioms

  • Fleeing like a frightened animal(惊惶遯走)
  • Escaping from worldly troubles(遯世离群)
  • Withdrawing to avoid conflict(遯身远害)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used in classical Chinese philosophy, particularly in Daoist and Confucian texts, to describe withdrawal from society for moral or spiritual reasons.
  • Appears in the I Ching (Book of Changes) as one of the hexagrams, representing retreat and withdrawal.
  • Often carries a positive connotation of wise retreat rather than cowardly flight in classical context.

FAQ