後戻り

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 後戻り is a noun read あともどり, meaning turning back along a route or retreating from progress already made. It forms the verb 後戻りする.
• Basic usage: It can describe turning back because a road collapsed or being unable to retreat after coming this far.
  • 道が崩れていたので途中から後戻りした。 describes turning back partway because the road had collapsed; ここまで進めた以上、今さら後戻りするわけにはいかない。 says that after coming this far, turning back is not an option.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 途中から後戻りする
  • から marks a point partway along the route as where the return began.
• 後戻りするわけにはいかない
  • わけにはいかない means that circumstances or responsibility make turning back an unacceptable option.
• 後戻り and 前進
  • 後戻り is movement back along a route or toward an earlier state, while 前進 is movement forward or on to the next stage.