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左支右绌
左支右绌
左支右绌
左支右绌
左支右绌
左支右绌
左支右绌

左支右绌 — “Left support, right inadequacy”

左支右绌 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to struggle to cope with multiple demands due to insufficient resources or ability; to be hard-pressed on all sides; to be unable to make ends meet”. Literally, “Left support, right inadequacy”.

Frequency

左支右绌 Pronunciation and Pinyin

  • 左zuǒ
  • 支zhī
  • 右yòu
  • 绌chù

左支右绌 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
左
zuǒ5left side
支
zhī4support, pay, branch, measure word
右
yòu5right side, conservative
绌
chù8insufficient or deficient

Example Sentence with 左支右绌

面对公司日益增长的开支,财务部门显得左支右绌,难以平衡收支。
Facing the company's escalating expenses, the finance department found itself struggling to balance the books, hard-pressed on all sides.

Idioms Related to 左支右绌

Synonyms of 左支右绌

  • dōng东fú扶xī西dǎo倒neglect one while focusing on another
  • wā挖ròu肉bǔ补chuāng疮adopt a harmful temporary solution
  • zhuō捉jīn襟jiàn见zhǒu肘struggling to make ends meet

Antonyms of 左支右绌

  • jìn尽rú如rén人yì意everything as one wishes
  • zuǒ左yòu右féng逢yuán源handle with ease and skill

More idioms starting with 左

  • zuǒ左shū书yòu右xī息act perversely
  • zuǒ左chōng冲yòu右tū突charge left and right
  • zuǒ左quàn券zhī之cāo操have full assurance of success
  • zuǒ左shǐ史yòu右jīng经widely read and knowledgeable
  • zuǒ左yòu右liǎng两nán难caught between a rock and a hard place
  • zuǒ左yòu右wéi为nán难caught between two difficult choices
  • zuǒ左yòu右qīn亲jìn近trusted confidant or close associate
  • zuǒ左yòu右tú图shǐ史surrounded by books and history
  • zuǒ左yòu右kāi开gōng弓shoot with both hands
  • zuǒ左yòu右shǒu手a capable assistant
  • zuǒ左yòu右yáo摇bǎi摆sway back and forth
  • zuǒ左yòu右zhī枝wú梧struggle to cope with multiple demands

Questions about 左支右绌

What does 左支右绌 mean?
左支右绌 (zuǒ zhī yòu chù) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to struggle to cope with multiple demands due to insufficient resources or ability; to be hard-pressed on all sides; to be unable to make ends meet”.
How do you pronounce 左支右绌?
左支右绌 is pronounced zuǒ zhī yòu chù in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 左支右绌 literally mean?
Literally, 左支右绌 means “Left support, right inadequacy”. It is used to mean “to struggle to cope with multiple demands due to insufficient resources or ability; to be hard-pressed on all sides; to be unable to make ends meet”.
What is the Chinese definition of 左支右绌?
支:支持;绌:屈曲,引伸为不足。原指弯弓射箭的姿势,左手支持,右手屈曲。指力量不足,应付了这方面,那方面又出了问题。
Copy the pinyin for 左支右绌 →Choose tone marks or tone numbers and copy the complete four-character reading.Read Chinese vocabulary and idiom guides →Continue with words, phrases, and idioms explained through natural examples.

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