顾此失彼

MEANING

1. 壹形adjective

   lit. to attend to one thing and lose sight of another (idiom)

   • tāzǒngshìgùcǐshībǐ,bùnéngbǎshìqíngzuòhǎo.

     他总是顾此失彼，不能把事情做好。🔊

     He always neglects one thing while attending to another and cannot do things well.

2. 貳形adjective

   fig. to be unable to manage two or more things at once

   • tāzǒngshìgùcǐshībǐ,shénmedōuzuòbùhǎo.

     他总是顾此失彼，什么都做不好。🔊

     He always neglects one thing while attending to another, and can't do anything well.

3. 參形adjective

   cannot pay attention to one thing without neglecting the other

   • tāzǒngshìgùcǐshībǐ,bùnéngbǎshìqíngzuòhǎo.

     他总是顾此失彼，不能把事情做好。🔊

     He always attends to one thing at the expense of another and can't do things well.