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. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
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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。
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
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yī fān fēng shùn
Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
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千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
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mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
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国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
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Peace everywhere; universal harmony
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ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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Hard to leave one's homeland
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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: This idiom applies when describing situations involving hard-pressed; financially stretched.
What is the pinyin for 捉襟见肘?
The pinyin pronunciation for 捉襟见肘 is “zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu”.