Pinyin:
jiǎo cǎi liǎng zhī chuán
Meaning:
比喻因为认识不清或为某种利益跟两方面都保持联系。
For the purpose of doing speculation or leaving more opportunities for oneself, one keeps in touch with both sides.
Character breakdown and explanation:
脚：foot
踩：step on
两：two
只：measure word (used for boats, birds, some animals, some containers, and one of certain paired things)
船：boat
This phrase literally means one person stepping on two boats. Figuratively, this phrase means for the purpose of doing speculation or leaving more opportunities for oneself, one keeps in touch with both sides. Nowadays, the phrase is commonly used to describe the relationship between men and women. The verb “踩” can be replaced with “踏,” and the measure word “只” can be changed to “条.” For example, “脚踏两只船,” “脚踩两条船,” etc.
Example sentences:
她们俩都是不错的女孩子，你可不要玩脚踩两只船的游戏，欺骗她们的感情。
Tāmen liǎ dōu shì búcuò de nǚ háizi, nǐ kě búyào wán jiǎo cǎi liǎng zhī chuán de yóu xì, qīpiàn tāmen de gǎnqíng.
Both of them are great girls, you can’t have a foot in both camps and cheat their feelings.
你迟早要在工党和保守党之间做出选择，你不能总是脚踩两只船。
Nǐ chízǎo yào zài gōng dǎng hé bǎoshǒu dǎng zhī jiān zuò chū xuǎnzé, nǐ bù néng zǒng shì jiǎo cǎi liǎng zhī chuán.
Sooner or later, you'll have to choose between Labour and the Conservatives; you can't have a foot in both camps indefinitely.
