attend to external affairs; be distracted
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to attend to matters outside one's duty; to be distracted by external affairs
literaryLiterary usage describing someone whose attention is divided by outside matters rather than focused on their main responsibilities. Often implies neglect of one's proper duties.
Tā他
jìn近
lái来
wài外
wù务
pō颇
duō多
，
xué学
yè业
yīn因
cǐ此
huāng荒
shū疏
。
Recently he has been much distracted by external affairs, and his studies have consequently been neglected.
Jūn君
zǐ子
zhì治
xué学
dāng当
zhuān专
xīn心
zhì致
zhì志
，
bù不
kě可
wài外
wù务
。
A gentleman pursuing his studies should concentrate his mind and energy, and must not be distracted by external matters.
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Wéi为
guān官
zhě者
ruò若
zhōng终
rì日
wài外
wù务
，
bì必
zhì致
zhèng政
wù务
fèi废
chí弛
。
If an official spends all day attending to external affairs, governmental duties will inevitably become lax.