目不暇接
Cannot take it all in
직역: Eyes (目) not (不) leisure (暇) connect/receive (接)
Use it when a scene is so rich or busy that your eyes can't keep up.
15초 만에
- Visual overload in a beautiful or exciting way.
- Your eyes are too busy to see everything at once.
- Perfect for festivals, scenery, and vibrant city streets.
뜻
Imagine your eyes are racing to keep up with everything happening around you. It describes that feeling when there is so much beauty or activity that you can't possibly see it all at once.
주요 예문
3 / 6Visiting a busy night market
夜市里的摊位琳琅满目，真是让人目不暇接。
The stalls in the night market are so varied; it's truly more than the eye can take in.
Watching a high-tech drone show
无人机表演变幻莫测，观众们目不暇接。
The drone show changed constantly, leaving the audience unable to take it all in.
Describing a museum exhibit in a report
展厅里的艺术品精美绝伦，令参观者目不暇接。
The artworks in the hall are exquisite, providing a feast for the visitors' eyes.
문화적 배경
The phrase originates from the Jin Dynasty, specifically from the writings of Wang Xianzhi. It was originally used to describe the breathtaking natural scenery of the Kuaiji mountains. Today, it is a staple of travel writing and art criticism in the Chinese-speaking world.
The 'Eye' Rule
Remember this is only for things you see. Don't use it for a concert (hearing) unless you're talking about the crazy light show!
Don't confuse with 'Busy'
If you are busy with work, use `应接不暇`. `目不暇接` is strictly for your eyes being 'busy' looking at things.
15초 만에
- Visual overload in a beautiful or exciting way.
- Your eyes are too busy to see everything at once.
- Perfect for festivals, scenery, and vibrant city streets.
What It Means
Think of a time you walked into a massive festival. Your eyes dart from the fireworks to the dancers. You feel overwhelmed in the best way possible. 目不暇接 (mù bù xiá jiē) captures that exact moment. It literally means your eyes have no 'leisure time' to take everything in. It is the 'too much of a good thing' for your vision.
How To Use It
You usually place it after a noun or at the end of a sentence. It functions like an adjective describing a scene. You can say 'The scenery makes me 目不暇接.' It is a four-character idiom, also known as a Chengyu. These are the 'cheat codes' of Chinese. Using them makes you sound incredibly sophisticated and poetic.
When To Use It
Use it when you are genuinely impressed by variety. It is perfect for a bustling night market. Use it when scrolling through a high-end fashion catalog. It works beautifully when describing a fast-paced sports match. If you are traveling and see a stunning mountain range, say this. Your Chinese friends will be very impressed by your vocabulary.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for negative chaos. If a room is messy and disorganized, this is not the phrase. It implies a sense of wonder or abundance, not a headache. Also, do not use it for things you hear or smell. This phrase is strictly for your eyeballs. If you are just bored, definitely stay away from this one!
Cultural Background
This phrase comes from ancient literature describing beautiful gardens. In Chinese culture, abundance is often seen as a blessing. Having 'too much to see' suggests prosperity and life. It reflects a traditional appreciation for intricate details. It became popular because it sounds elegant yet remains easy to understand. It turns a simple observation into a literary moment.
Common Variations
A very close cousin is 应接不暇 (yìng jiē bù xiá). That one is more about being too busy to handle tasks. 目不暇接 is specifically about the visual experience. You might also hear 琳琅满目 (lín láng mǎn mù). That one specifically describes a feast of beautiful objects or jewels. Stick to 目不暇接 for the general feeling of visual overload.
사용 참고사항
The phrase is very versatile but stays within the realm of visual experiences. It is grammatically flexible and can be used as a predicate or an attribute.
The 'Eye' Rule
Remember this is only for things you see. Don't use it for a concert (hearing) unless you're talking about the crazy light show!
Don't confuse with 'Busy'
If you are busy with work, use `应接不暇`. `目不暇接` is strictly for your eyes being 'busy' looking at things.
The Chengyu Power
In China, using this phrase instead of just saying 'there are many things' (东西很多) makes you sound like a cultured intellectual instantly.
예시
6夜市里的摊位琳琅满目，真是让人目不暇接。
The stalls in the night market are so varied; it's truly more than the eye can take in.
Describes the vibrant variety of food and goods.
无人机表演变幻莫测，观众们目不暇接。
The drone show changed constantly, leaving the audience unable to take it all in.
Captures the fast-paced visual changes.
展厅里的艺术品精美绝伦，令参观者目不暇接。
The artworks in the hall are exquisite, providing a feast for the visitors' eyes.
Adds a professional, appreciative tone to the description.
商场打折季的东西太多了，简直目不暇接！
There's so much stuff during the mall sale, I can't even look at it all!
Hyperbolic use to show excitement about shopping.
面对这么多美食，我真是目不暇接，不知道先吃哪个。
Facing all this food, my eyes are racing; I don't know what to eat first.
Humorous take on being a 'visual' glutton.
童年时的庙会总是那么热闹，各种表演让人目不暇接。
The temple fairs of my childhood were always so lively; the performances were a blur of wonder.
Used to evoke a sense of nostalgia and richness.
셀프 테스트
Choose the best phrase to describe a beautiful fireworks display.
烟花在空中绽放，五彩斑斓，让人___。
Because fireworks are a fast-moving, beautiful visual experience, '目不暇接' is the perfect fit.
Which context is NOT suitable for '目不暇接'?
以下哪个场景不适合用“目不暇接”？
The phrase requires a lot of visual stimuli; a quiet library is too still for this expression.
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시각 학습 자료
Formality of 目不暇接
Used with friends when shopping or eating.
这么多好吃的，目不暇接！
Standard usage in travel blogs or social media.
这里的风景让人目不暇接。
Used in literature or formal speeches.
改革开放的成果令人目不暇接。
Where to use 目不暇接
Art Gallery
Masterpieces everywhere
Nature
Autumn leaves in the forest
City Life
Neon lights in Tokyo
Shopping
A huge luxury department store
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Mostly, yes. It implies a positive or impressive variety. You wouldn't use it for a pile of trash, even if there was a lot to look at.
Not really. It describes a scene or a collection of things. However, you could say a person's many talents make you 目不暇接 metaphorically.
琳琅满目 focuses on the objects themselves being beautiful (like jewels). 目不暇接 focuses on your eyes' inability to keep up with the scene.
Absolutely! It's very common in social media posts about travel or food. It adds a bit of 'flavor' to your captions.
It's pronounced 'xiá' (second tone). It sounds like 'she-ah'. It means leisure or free time.
Yes, especially an action movie with lots of special effects. You can say 动作场面让人目不暇接.
It is neutral to formal. It's safe to use in a professional presentation, but also perfectly fine for a casual dinner conversation.
Not directly. If a scene is too chaotic in a bad way, you might use 眼花缭乱 (yǎn huā liáo luàn), which implies your eyes are dizzy.
Yes! A fast-paced basketball game where the ball moves quickly is a perfect situation for 目不暇接.
In this context, 接 means to receive or take in. So your eyes can't 'receive' the images fast enough.
관련 표현
应接不暇 (Too busy to attend to everything)
眼花缭乱 (Dazzled/Confused by many things)
琳琅满目 (A superb collection of beautiful things)
美不胜收 (So much beauty one cannot take it all in)
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