in a terrible fix; at wit's end; burned out
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesadjective
in a sorry plight; in a terrible fix; harassed; at wit's end
Originating from a Han dynasty story about a man who saved his neighbor from fire and got his head burned. Now used to describe being extremely busy, troubled, or in a difficult and embarrassing situation.
Zuì最
jìn近
gōng工
zuò作
máng忙
de得
jiāo焦
tóu头
làn烂
é额
。
I've been terribly busy with work lately.
Wèi为
le了
chóu筹
bèi备
hūn婚
lǐ礼
，
tā她
máng忙
de得
jiāo焦
tóu头
làn烂
é额
。
She's been in a terrible fix preparing for the wedding.
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Gōng公
sī司
kuī亏
sǔn损
yán严
zhòng重
，
lǎo老
bǎn板
zuì最
jìn近
jiāo焦
tóu头
làn烂
é额
。
The company is suffering heavy losses, and the boss has been at his wit's end recently.
Hái孩
zi子
men们
bǎ把
jiā家
lǐ里
nòng弄
de得
yī一
tuán团
zāo糟
，
mā妈
ma妈
huí回
lái来
yī一
kàn看
，
qì气
de得
jiāo焦
tóu头
làn烂
é额
。
The kids made a mess of the house, and when mom came back and saw it, she was utterly exasperated.