疲于奔命

疲於奔命

píyú-bēnmìng

idiom #34,166

Meanings

1 worn out running errands (idiom)
2 constantly on the go; rushed off one's feet

Characters

tired; exhausted

command; errand

Examples

客户要求不断，销售团队疲于奔命。

Kèhù yāoqiú bùduàn, xiāoshòu tuánduì píyúbēnmìng.

With clients' demands never stopping, the sales team is run off its feet.

他每天在几个项目之间疲于奔命。

Tā měitiān zài jǐ gè xiàngmù zhījiān píyúbēnmìng.

He runs ragged between several projects every day.

Tips

history

From 《左传·成公七年》: the Chu minister 巫臣 threatens 子重, 余必使尔罢于奔命以死 — "I will surely wear you out running commands until you die." The strategy worked — Chu was exhausted by constant border alarms.

Stroke Order

疲 pí

于 yú

奔 bēn

命 mìng