應接不暇

Chinese

to receive; to admit to be too busy
trad. (應接不暇) 應接 不暇
simp. (应接不暇) 应接 不暇
alternative forms 接應不暇／接应不暇

Etymology

First attested in c. 440, in A New Account of the Tales of the World:

王子敬云：“從山陰道上行，山川自相映發，使人應接不暇。若秋冬之際，尤難爲懷。” [Literary Chinese, trad.]
王子敬云：“从山阴道上行，山川自相映发，使人应接不暇。若秋冬之际，尤难为怀。” [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5th century CE
Wáng Zǐjìng yún: “Cóng Shānyīn dào shàng xíng, shānchuān zìxiāng yìngfā, shǐ rén yìngjiē bùxiá. Ruò qiū dōng zhījì, yóu nán wéi huái.” [Pinyin]
Wang Hsien-chih said, "Whenever I travel by the Shan-yin road, the hills and streams naturally complement each other and the scenery is more than my eyes can take in; especially if it's at the turning point between autumn and winter, I find it all the harder to express what's in my heart."

Pronunciation

Idiom

應接不暇

  1. to have more on than one can attend to; to be overwhelmed by (beautiful scenery, tasks, customers, etc.)

Synonyms

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