踏步不前

tàbùbùqián
  1. to be at a standstill
  2. to mark time

CEDICT

Entry Composition

1 踏步 tàbù
  1. stride
  2. to step (on the spot)
  3. to mark time
  4. at a standstill
2 不 bù
  1. no; not so
  2. (bound form) not; un-
3 前 qián
  1. front
  2. forward
  3. ahead
  4. first
  5. top (followed by a number)
  6. future
  7. ago
  8. before
  9. BC (e.g. 前293年)
  10. former
  11. formerly

Related entries

居 jū
  1. to reside
  2. to be (in a certain position)
  3. to store up
  4. to be at a standstill
  5. residence
  6. house
  7. restaurant
  8. classifier for bedrooms
她老公现居东京。

Her husband is now living in Tokyo.

Her husband is currently living in Tokyo.

Source: Tatoeba

原地踏步 yuándìtàbù
  1. to mark time (military)
  2. to make no headway
踏步 tàbù
  1. stride
  2. to step (on the spot)
  3. to mark time
  4. at a standstill