# 疲于奔命

pí yú bēn mìng

Exhausted by constantly responding to demands

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Wearied by rushing to carry out orders

**Traditional Chinese:** 疲於奔命

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Describe relentless work or urgent demands from many directions.

Suggests strain, not merely a full schedule.

## Understanding the expression

The image is of someone repeatedly rushing to carry out demands without a chance to recover. Modern speakers use it for overlapping deadlines, endless repair requests, or competing family responsibilities. The fatigue comes from being constantly reactive, not simply from working hard toward one chosen goal. It often implies that the arrangement is unsustainable. Better staffing, clearer priorities, or fewer interruptions may address the situation more effectively than telling the exhausted person to try harder.

## Examples

订单太多，员工疲于奔命。

### Traditional Chinese

訂單太多，員工疲於奔命。

dìng dān tài duō ， yuán gōng pí yú bēn mìng 。

There were so many orders that the staff were exhausted trying to keep up.

她照顾三个病人，疲于奔命。

### Traditional Chinese

她照顧三個病人，疲於奔命。

tā zhào gù sān gè bìng rén ， pí yú bēn mìng 。

Caring for three patients left her exhausted by constant demands.

不断修改需求，让团队疲于奔命。

### Traditional Chinese

不斷修改需求，讓團隊疲於奔命。

bú duàn xiū gǎi xū qiú ， ràng tuán duì pí yú bēn mìng 。

Constantly changing requirements left the team struggling to keep up.

他在两份工作之间疲于奔命。

### Traditional Chinese

他在兩份工作之間疲於奔命。

tā zài liǎng fèn gōng zuò zhī jiān pí yú bēn mìng 。

He exhausted himself rushing between two jobs.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%96%B2%E6%96%BC%E5%A5%94%E5%91%BD)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=715&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [迫不及待 pò bù jí dài Be too eager to wait ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/po-bu-ji-dai)

- [千方百计 qiān fāng bǎi jì Try every possible method ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qian-fang-bai-ji)

- [前功尽弃 qián gōng jìn qì Lose the value of all previous effort ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qian-gong-jin-qi)

- [千头万绪 qiān tóu wàn xù Face many tangled matters to organize ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qian-tou-wan-xu)

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