防不胜防

防不勝防
fángbù-shèngfáng
idiom #43,442

Meanings

  1. 1 impossible to guard against
  2. 2 there is no way to prevent it
  3. 3 you can't defend against everything

Examples

HSK 6
Tā de jìngōng sùdù kuài, duìshǒu fángbù-shèngfáng.
His attacks are so fast his opponents can't keep up defensively.
HSK 7-9
Wǎngluò zhàpiàn shǒuduàn céngchū-bùqióng, ràng rén fángbù-shèngfáng.
Online scams keep evolving - you just can't guard against them all.
HSK 7-9
Chūntiān de huāfěn guòmǐn ràng rén fángbù-shèngfáng.
Spring pollen allergies are impossible to avoid.

Tips

grammar
here means 'to bear / to handle fully' (same as in 不胜枚举). Literal reading: 'guarding against it is more than guarding can bear' - the defenses can't keep up with the attacks.
usage
Often follows 让人 or 令人. Used for anything that comes at you from too many angles: scams, sneak attacks, bad luck, allergens.

Stroke Order

fáng
shèng