solve one problem only for another to pop up; never-ending problems
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesphrase
to solve one problem only for another to pop up; be unable to achieve a perfect solution
neutralUsed to describe situations where problems are interconnected or resources are limited, leading to a constant struggle without a final resolution.
Gōng公
sī司
gāng刚
jiě解
jué决
le了
xiàn现
jīn金
liú流
wèn问
tí题
，
kè客
hù户
tóu投
sù诉
yòu又
jī激
zēng增
，
zhēn真
shì是
àn按
xià下
hú葫
lu芦
fú浮
qǐ起
piáo瓢
。
The company just solved the cash flow problem, but customer complaints surged—it's like pressing down the gourd only to have the ladle float up.
Zhào照
gù顾
liǎng两
gè个
hái孩
zi子
，
cháng常
cháng常
shì是
àn按
xià下
hú葫
lu芦
fú浮
qǐ起
piáo瓢
，
máng忙
dé得
bù不
kě可
kāi开
jiāo交
。
Taking care of two children is often like pressing down the gourd only to have the ladle float up—I'm constantly busy.
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Zhè这
gè个
xì系
tǒng统
lòu漏
dòng洞
tài太
duō多
，
xiū修
fù复
le了
zhè这
lǐ里
，
nà那
lǐ里
yòu又
chū出
wèn问
tí题
，
wán完
quán全
shì是
àn按
xià下
hú葫
lu芦
fú浮
qǐ起
piáo瓢
。
This system has too many bugs; fixing one makes another appear—it's a perfect example of 'pressing down the gourd only to have the ladle float up'.