手足无措
手足无措 (shǒu zú wú cuò) literally means “hands and feet without placement” and expresses “at a loss; flustered”. 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: shou zu wu cuo, shou zu wu cuo,手足无措 meaning, 手足无措 in english
At a loss; flustered
Pronunciation: shǒu zú wú cuò
Literal meaning: Hands and feet without placement
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes hands (手) and feet (足) having no place (无措) to go - not knowing where to put one's limbs. The physical awkwardness represents mental confusion and panic. The phrase appeared in Confucian texts describing the discomfort of impropriety. It captures the paralysis of sudden confusion where even basic physical coordination fails. Modern usage describes being so flustered or surprised that one doesn't know how to react.
Examples
English: "The sudden question left him completely flustered."
Chinese: 这个突如其来的问题让他手足无措。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 手足无措 mean in English?
手足无措 (shǒu zú wú cuò) literally translates to “Hands and feet without placement” and is used to express “At a loss; flustered”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 手足无措 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving at a loss; flustered.
What is the pinyin for 手足无措?
The pinyin pronunciation for 手足无措 is “shǒu zú wú cuò”.