捉襟见肘 (zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu) — (idiom) to have more problems than one can handle; to be overwhelmed by difficulties (often financial)

Definition

A vivid chengyu image of pulling in one part of the robe only to expose the elbow — meaning resources or ability are stretched so thin that fixing one problem creates another. It emphasizes chronic, systemic shortfall, not a single crisis.

idiom
to have more problems than one can handleto be overwhelmed by difficulties (often financial)

Examples

  • 捉襟见肘，。
    Zhè jiā xiǎo gōng sī zuì jìn zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu, zī jīn zhōu zhuǎn fēi cháng kùn nan.
    This small company is overwhelmed with problems lately, and its cash flow is very difficult.
  • ，捉襟见肘，。
    Xiàng mù tài duō, tā yì rén zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu, shí zài máng bú guò lái.
    With too many projects, he alone is overwhelmed — he really can't manage.
  • ，捉襟见肘，。
    Jiē dào zhè me duō rèn wu, tā gǎn dào zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu, yā lì hěn dà.
    Having received so many tasks, he feels overwhelmed and under great pressure.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
足
足zú捉zhuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

捉 pairs 扌, the hand form of 手, with 足, which gives the character its sound.

Open 捉 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⻂Written in full as衣yīclothing
Sound part声符shēngfú
禁
禁jìn襟jīn
Same sound today

襟 pairs ⻂ (clothing, full form 衣) with 禁 for the sound; it refers to the seam or collar of a garment.

Open 襟 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 見; 见 is its simplified writing.

  • 目目mùeye
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The traditional form 見 pairs 目 (eye) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a kneeling figure with a large eye for a head. The simplified 见 is a later shorthand.

Open 见 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
肉肉ròu
Sound part声符shēngfú
寸
寸cùn肘zhǒu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The old form of 肘 drew a hand with a line marking the elbow. Because it looked like 寸, 肉 was added to tell the two shapes apart.

Open 肘 →

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