寸步难行

cùn bù nán xíng

unable to move a single step; completely stuck

Character by character

寸cùn
inch

步bù
step

难nán
hard

行xíng
walk

在大城市，没有手机简直寸步难行。

In a big city you are simply stuck without a phone.

Tone: neutral.

Learn this in Lesson 4 · HSK 5: 移动支付 (Paying with your phone)

A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.