七手八脚
七手八脚 (qī shǒu bā jiǎo) literally means “seven hands eight feet” and expresses “many people busily working together in disorder”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: qi shou ba jiao, qi shou ba jiao,七手八脚 meaning, 七手八脚 in english
Many people busily working together in disorder
Pronunciation: qī shǒu bā jiǎo Literal meaning: Seven hands eight feet
Origin & Usage
Seven (七) hands (手) and eight (八) feet (脚). Chinese pairs seven and eight to mean disordered multiplicity rather than any count, and the same device produces 乱七八糟 and 七嘴八舌. What the phrase describes is a group all helping at once — the limbs outnumber the task, everyone is doing something, and nobody is directing. Its tone is affectionate more often than critical, and it suits the scene when a table collapses and six people reach for it.
Examples
English: "The emergency room staff moved in chaotic coordination to save the accident victim"
Chinese: 急诊室的工作人员以混乱的协调配合拯救事故受害者
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
七上八下
qī shàng bā xià
Anxious and unsettled
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乱七八糟
luàn qī bā zāo
Complete disorganization and messiness
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四通八达
sì tōng bā dá
Extending in all directions; well-connected
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半斤八两
bàn jīn bā liǎng
Essentially the same despite appearances
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十有八九
shí yǒu bā jiǔ
Very high probability at about 80-90 percent
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胡说八道
hú shuō bā dào
Talk complete nonsense without any foundation
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五花八门
wǔ huā bā mén
A bewildering variety; all kinds of
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七嘴八舌
qī zuǐ bā shé
Everyone talking at once; lively discussion
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 七手八脚 mean in English?
七手八脚 (qī shǒu bā jiǎo) literally translates to “Seven hands eight feet” and is used to express “Many people busily working together in disorder”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 七手八脚 used?
Situation: The emergency room staff moved in chaotic coordination to save the accident victim
What is the pinyin for 七手八脚?
The pinyin pronunciation for 七手八脚 is “qī shǒu bā jiǎo”.
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