捉襟見肘

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See also: 捉襟见肘

Chinese

to clutch; to grab; to capture overlapping part of Chinese gown
to see; to meet; to appear
to see; to meet; to appear; to interview
 
 elbow; pork shoulder
trad. (捉襟見肘) 捉 襟 見 肘
simp. (捉襟见肘) 捉 襟 见 肘
alternative forms 捉衿見肘／捉衿见肘
Literally: “to clutch one's collar only to expose one's elbows”.

Etymology

The idiom arose from an anecdote variously attributed to Zeng Shen or Yuan Xian.

曾子居衛…正冠而纓絕，捉衿而肘見，納履而踵決。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
曾子居卫…正冠而缨绝，捉衿而肘见，纳履而踵决。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3rd – 2nd centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zēngzǐ jū Wèi... Zhèngguān ér yīngjué, zhuōjīn ér zhǒuxiàn, nàlǚ ér zhǒngjué.
Zeng-zi was residing in Wey.… f he put his cap on straight, the strings would break; if he drew tight the overlap of his robe, his elbow would be seen; in putting on his shoes, the heels would burst them.
原憲居魯…正冠則纓絕，振襟則肘見，納履則踵決。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
原宪居鲁…正冠则缨绝，振襟则肘见，纳履则踵决。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Han Ying (韓嬰), traditionally attributed. c. mid. 2nd century BCE, Han Shi Waizhuan (《韓詩外傳》). Based on the translation by James Robert Hightower.
Yuán Xiàn jū Lǔ... Zhèngguān zé yīngjué, zhènjīn zé zhǒuxiàn, nàlǚ zé zhǒngjué.
Yuan Xian dwelt in Lu… He straightened his cap and the string broke; he adjusted the lapel of his gown and his elbows came out; he put on his shoes and the heels burst.

Pronunciation

Note: The Xiandai Hanyu Guifan Cidian suggests zhuōjīnjiànzhǒu.

Idiom

捉襟見肘

  1. to be pitifully poor; to be desperately poor; to be hard up
  2. to have too many problems to handle at one time; to be severely lacking in resources to deal with issues on multiple fronts

Synonyms

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia