Definition
一筹莫展 (yī chóu mò zhǎn) literally 'not a single plan can be spread out' — you've exhausted all ideas and can't find a way forward. It's very similar to 束手无策 (shù shǒu wú cè), but 一筹莫展 focuses on lacking a strategy, while 束手无策 emphasizes being powerless. 不知所措 (bù zhī suǒ cuò) is more about confusion and panic, and 走投无路 (zǒu tóu wú lù) describes a desperate situation with no escape.
phrase
to be at one's wit's endto be unable to find a solution
Examples
- ，一筹莫展，。Miàn duì zhège nántí, tā yī chóu mò zhǎn, bù zhīdào gāi zěnme bàn.Faced with this difficult problem, he was at his wit's end and didn't know what to do.
- ，一筹莫展。Gōngsī zījīn liàn duànliè, lǎobǎn jí de yī chóu mò zhǎn.The company's capital chain broke, and the boss was so anxious he was at his wit's end.
- ，一筹莫展。Tā shì le gè zhǒng fāngfǎ dōu bù xíng, zhēn shì yī chóu mò zhǎn.He tried all kinds of methods but none worked — he was truly at his wit's end.
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