too busy to care for oneself; unable to help others
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to be too busy taking care of oneself to care for others; unable even to fend for oneself
literaryUsed to indicate that one is so overwhelmed with their own problems that they cannot help others. Often used as a polite or apologetic refusal to assist someone.
Wǒ我
xiàn现
zài在
zì自
gù顾
bù不
xiá暇
，
shí实
zài在
bāng帮
bù不
liǎo了
nǐ你
。
I'm too overwhelmed to take care of myself right now, so I really can't help you.
Gōng公
sī司
zì自
gù顾
bù不
xiá暇
，
nǎ哪
lǐ里
hái还
yǒu有
zī资
jīn金
tóu投
zī资
xīn新
xiàng项
mù目
？
The company can barely take care of itself; where would it find the funds to invest in new projects?
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Tā他
zì自
jǐ己
dōu都
zì自
gù顾
bù不
xiá暇
le了
，
nǐ你
hái还
zhǐ指
wàng望
tā他
bāng帮
nǐ你
？
He can't even take care of himself; do you still expect him to help you?