English Original
Yang Jian served as the regent for the last emperor of the Northern Zhou Dynasty (557-581 AD). His wife counseled him: "The Northern Zhou is on its last legs. Your position is like riding a tiger—dismounting would be perilous. You have no choice but to press on." Yang Jian found her advice sound. He later founded the Sui Dynasty and reunified China.
This idiom serves as a metaphor for being trapped in a difficult situation where one must continue on a risky course of action, as stopping would be even more dangerous.
中文翻译
杨坚是北周（公元557-581年）最后一位皇帝的摄政王。他的妻子劝告他：“北周气数已尽。你现在的处境犹如骑在虎背上——下来会很危险。你除了继续前进，别无选择。”杨坚认为她的话很有道理。他后来建立了隋朝，并再次统一了中国。
这个成语用来比喻陷入困境，进退两难，只能硬着头皮继续做下去，因为停止行动反而会更加危险。