Definition
应接不暇 is a four-character idiom (成语) meaning 'overwhelmed by more than one can handle', especially when there are too many visitors, tasks, or things to attend to. Literally it means 'should respond but have no leisure'. You can use it as a predicate to describe a situation where the volume of people or work exceeds your capacity to deal with it.
f.e.
overwhelmed by more than one can handle (especially visitors, tasks, or demands)
Examples
- ,应接不暇。Lǚyóu wàngjì de shíhou, dǎoyóumen máng de yīng.During peak tourist season, the tour guides are so busy they can't keep up.
- ,,应接不暇。Xīn diàn kāizhāng dì yì tiān, gùkè tài duō, fúwùyuán yīng.On the first day of the new store opening, there were so many customers that the staff couldn't handle them all.
- ,应接不暇。Tā yí gè rén yào chǔlǐ zhème duō wénjiàn, zhēn shì yīng.He has to handle so many documents all by himself — it's really overwhelming.
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