too busy to rest; work tirelessly
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
so busy that one does not loosen one's belt (to sleep); too busy to rest
literaryOriginally described caring for someone so attentively that one slept without undressing. Now generally describes working tirelessly or being extremely busy. Often used with 废寝忘食.
Tā他
yī衣
bù不
jiě解
dài带
de地
zhào照
gù顾
le了
mǔ母
qīn亲
zhěng整
zhěng整
yī一
gè个
yuè月
。
He cared for his mother tirelessly for a whole month without resting.
Wèi为
le了
gǎn赶
zài在
deadline
qiánd
wáne
chénga
xiàngd
mùl
zhěngi
gèn
tuáne
duì
yī前
bù完
jiě成
dài项
de目
，
gōng整
zuò个
团
队
衣
不
解
带
地
工
作
。
To finish the project before the deadline, the entire team worked tirelessly without rest.
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Zhū诸
gě葛
Liàng亮
yī衣
bù不
jiě解
dài带
，
sù夙
xīng兴
yè夜
mèi寐
，
zhōng终
yú于
jī积
láo劳
chéng成
jí疾
。
Zhuge Liang worked tirelessly day and night, and finally fell ill from overwork.