一筹莫展

yī chóu mò zhǎn

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Rare

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Definitions

1. to be unable to find a solution
2. to be at wits' end

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Word relationships

Related words

2 items

• 不知所措 bù zhī suǒ cuò 不知所措 bù zhī suǒ cuò not knowing what to do (idiom); at one's wits' end Not knowing what to do, often from shock or confusion: not knowing what to do (idiom); at one's wits' end
• 无可奈何 wú kě nài hé 无可奈何 wú kě nài hé have no way out Having no alternative, often resigned to a situation: have no way out

Synonyms

1 item

• 束手无策 shù shǒu wú cè 束手无策 shù shǒu wú cè lit. to have one's hands bound and be unable to do anything about it (idiom); fig. helpless in the face of a crisis When describing being helpless or without a plan: lit. to have one's hands bound and be unable to do anything about it (idiom); fig. helpless in the face of a crisis

Usage notes

Collocations

Often follows adverbs like 仍然 (still) or 都 (even) to emphasize complete helplessness, e.g., 大家都一筹莫展。

Common mistakes

一筹莫展 is used for situations where one is completely at a loss for a plan; it’s not used for simple indecision.

Example Sentences

1 shown

面对这个难题，大家都 一筹莫展 。

Faced with this difficult problem, everyone was at their wits' end.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 一筹莫展

• 一 一 yī: one
• 筹 筹 chóu: chip (in gambling); token (for counting); ticket
• 展 展 zhǎn: to spread out
• 莫 莫 mò: do not