捉襟见肘
捉襟见肘 (zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu) literally means “pulling collar reveals elbows” and expresses “hard-pressed; financially stretched”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
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Hard-pressed; financially stretched
Pronunciation: zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu Literal meaning: Pulling collar reveals elbows
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes clothing so worn that pulling (捉) the collar (襟) reveals (见) the elbows (肘). The vivid image of poverty - clothes so tattered they cannot cover the body - originated in historical descriptions of destitute scholars. The phrase evolved to describe any situation of severe shortage where resources are insufficient to cover basic needs. Modern usage commonly describes tight budgets, understaffing, or any situation where demands exceed available resources.
Examples
English: "The budget constraints left the department financially stretched."
Chinese: 预算限制让部门捉襟见肘。
Related Chinese Idioms
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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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sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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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 捉襟见肘 mean in English?
捉襟见肘 (zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu) literally translates to “Pulling collar reveals elbows” and is used to express “Hard-pressed; financially stretched”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 捉襟见肘 used?
Situation: The budget constraints left the department financially stretched.
What is the pinyin for 捉襟见肘?
The pinyin pronunciation for 捉襟见肘 is “zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu”.