应接不暇
应接不暇 (yìng jiē bù xiá) literally means “responding and receiving without leisure” and expresses “more to take in than one can keep up with”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: ying jie bu xia, ying jie bu xia,应接不暇 meaning, 应接不暇 in english
More to take in than one can keep up with
Pronunciation: yìng jiē bù xiá Literal meaning: Responding and receiving without leisure
Origin & Usage
Wang Xianzhi said that travelling the road through Shanyin, with the hills and rivers throwing the light back at one another, left a person 应接不暇 — no leisure (不暇) left over from meeting (应) and taking in (接) it all. The original is about abundance rather than pressure: the eye cannot keep up because there is too much worth looking at. Chinese has since carried it over to work and to visitors, where the abundance is less welcome, but the flattering sense survives — a shop can be 应接不暇 and its owner delighted.
Examples
English: "The sudden influx of customers left the staff overwhelmed."
Chinese: 突然涌入的顾客让员工应接不暇。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
目不暇给
mù bù xiá jǐ
Too much to take in
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再接再厉
zài jiē zài lì
Continue efforts with undiminished enthusiasm
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供不应求
gōng bù yìng qiú
Demand exceeds available supply
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Good and evil deeds repaid in kind
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随机应变
suí jī yìng biàn
Adapt to circumstances; think on one's feet
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得心应手
dé xīn yìng shǒu
Work with great ease; have complete mastery
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里应外合
lǐ yìng wài hé
An inside accomplice working with an outside force
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一呼百应
yī hū bǎi yìng
Influential leadership
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 应接不暇 mean in English?
应接不暇 (yìng jiē bù xiá) literally translates to “Responding and receiving without leisure” and is used to express “More to take in than one can keep up with”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 应接不暇 used?
Situation: The sudden influx of customers left the staff overwhelmed.
What is the pinyin for 应接不暇?
The pinyin pronunciation for 应接不暇 is “yìng jiē bù xiá”.