目不暇给
目不暇给 (mù bù xiá jǐ) literally means “eyes too busy to attend” and expresses “too much to take in”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: mu bu xia ji, mu bu xia ji,目不暇给 meaning, 目不暇给 in english
Too much to take in
Pronunciation: mù bù xiá jǐ
Literal meaning: Eyes too busy to attend
Origin & Usage
This vivid idiom emerged from Han Dynasty court records describing imperial inspections where officials' eyes (目) were too (不) occupied (暇) to properly attend to (给) everything before them. The phrase gained prominence during the Tang Dynasty's economic boom, when market inspectors used it to describe the challenge of monitoring bustling marketplaces. Historical documents show how the phrase spread from official contexts to describe any overwhelming visual experience. In modern usage, it often describes information overload in our digital age, from professionals managing multiple screens to tourists encountering sensory-rich environments. The idiom captures both the abundance of stimuli and the physical limitation of human attention.
Examples
English: "The exhibition's countless displays overwhelmed visitors"
Chinese: 展览中数不清的展品让参观者目不暇给
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 目不暇给 mean in English?
目不暇给 (mù bù xiá jǐ) literally translates to “Eyes too busy to attend” and is used to express “Too much to take in”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 目不暇给 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving too much to take in.
What is the pinyin for 目不暇给?
The pinyin pronunciation for 目不暇给 is “mù bù xiá jǐ”.