目不暇接

mùbù-xiájiē

idiom

Meanings

1 too much for the eye to take in (idiom)
2 a feast for the eyes
3 so many things the eye can't keep up

Characters

leisure; free time

to receive; take in

Examples

HSK 4

风景太美了，我目不暇接。

Fēngjǐng tài měi le, wǒ mùbù-xiájiē.

The scenery is so beautiful I can't look at it all fast enough.

HSK 7-9

商场里的商品琳琅满目，让人目不暇接。

Shāngchǎng lǐ de shāngpǐn línláng-mǎnmù, ràng rén mùbù-xiájiē.

The goods in the mall are so abundant that the eye can't take them all in.

HSK 7-9

春节晚会精彩纷呈，令人目不暇接。

Chūnjié wǎnhuì jīngcǎi-fēnchéng, lìngrén mùbù-xiájiē.

The Spring Festival gala was so dazzling the audience couldn't keep up.

Tips

history

Adapted from 《世说新语·言语》: Gu Kaizhi, traveling the Shanyin mountains, said 从山阴道上行，山川自相映发，使人应接不暇 - 'mountain after mountain reflects on each other so there's not time to take it all in.' 应接不暇 evolved into 目不暇接 when the emphasis shifted to the eye (目).

usage

Positive - the overload is pleasurable. Describes visual abundance: scenery, shop displays, gallery openings, light shows, performances. Natural with 让人, 令人, 使人 as a causative.

Stroke Order

目 mù

不 bù

暇 xiá

接 jiē