# 千头万绪

qiān tóu wàn xù

Face many tangled matters to organize

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** A thousand beginnings and ten thousand threads

**Traditional Chinese:** 千頭萬緒

**Register:** Standard · expressive

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

## When to use it

Describe complicated work with numerous loose ends.

Can become manageable through priorities.

## Understanding the expression

Many threads begin in different places and need to be sorted before the pattern becomes clear. The expression describes a complex task with numerous connected issues, often at the start of a project or after disruption. It conveys the difficulty of finding where to begin. The disorder need not be permanent. Separating responsibilities, identifying dependencies, and choosing a first step can turn the same collection of matters into a workable sequence.

## Examples

搬迁工作千头万绪。

### Traditional Chinese

搬遷工作千頭萬緒。

bān qiān gōng zuò qiān tóu wàn xù 。

The relocation involves countless complicated matters.

她面对千头万绪，先列清单。

### Traditional Chinese

她面對千頭萬緒，先列清單。

tā miàn duì qiān tóu wàn xù ， xiān liè qīng dān 。

Faced with many loose ends, she made a checklist first.

开店初期千头万绪，幸有朋友帮忙。

### Traditional Chinese

開店初期千頭萬緒，幸有朋友幫忙。

kāi diàn chū qī qiān tóu wàn xù ， xìng yǒu péng yǒu bāng máng 。

Starting the shop involved countless tasks, fortunately with friends’ help.

项目千头万绪，需要明确负责人。

### Traditional Chinese

項目千頭萬緒，需要明確負責人。

xiàng mù qiān tóu wàn xù ， xū yào míng què fù zé rén 。

The project has many tangled issues and needs clear ownership.

## 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=%E5%8D%83%E9%A0%AD%E8%90%AC%E7%B7%92)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=961&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [切磋琢磨 qiē cuō zhuó mó Improve understanding through exchange and refinement ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qie-cuo-zhuo-mo)

- [锲而不舍 qiè ér bù shě Persevere without giving up ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qie-er-bu-she)

- [轻而易举 qīng ér yì jǔ Achieve something with little difficulty ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/qing-er-yi-ju)

- [全力以赴 quán lì yǐ fù Put all your effort into it ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/quan-li-yi-fu)

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