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手忙脚乱

shǒu máng jiǎo luàn

in a flurry

Character by character

手shǒu
hands
忙máng
busy
脚jiǎo
feet
乱luàn
in chaos

Example

第一次做饭,我手忙脚乱。
The first time I cooked, I was all in a flurry.

Tone: neutral.

Usage and origin

Everyday and vivid; often 忙得 or 弄得手忙脚乱.

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