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.
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 Historical documents show how the phrase spread from official contexts to describe any overwhelming visual experience.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
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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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: The exhibition's countless displays overwhelmed visitors
What is the pinyin for 目不暇给?
The pinyin pronunciation for 目不暇给 is “mù bù xiá jǐ”.