# 自顾不暇

zì gù bù xiá

Have no capacity beyond one's own troubles

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Not have leisure even to care for oneself

**Traditional Chinese:** 自顧不暇

**Register:** Practical · general

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Explain inability to help because one's own affairs are overwhelming.

May express genuine limits, not necessarily selfishness.

## Understanding the expression

The person already lacks enough time or resources to manage their own needs. The expression explains why helping others may be beyond their present capacity. It commonly appears during illness, workload crises, or financial hardship. The emphasis is constraint rather than a refusal to care. It can excuse lack of support, but should be used honestly. A small offer or referral may still be possible without pretending that the person can take on another full burden.

## Examples

我这周自顾不暇，无法接新任务。

### Traditional Chinese

我這週自顧不暇，無法接新任務。

wǒ zhè zhōu zì gù bù xiá ， wú fǎ jiē xīn rèn wu 。

I am overwhelmed this week and cannot take new work.

洪水中各家自顾不暇。

### Traditional Chinese

洪水中各家自顧不暇。

hóng shuǐ zhōng gè jiā zì gù bù xiá 。

During the flood, each household struggled with its own needs.

她照顾病人，忙得自顾不暇。

### Traditional Chinese

她照顧病人，忙得自顧不暇。

tā zhào gù bìng rén ， máng dé zì gù bù xiá 。

Caregiving leaves her little capacity for her own needs.

他自顾不暇，仍帮我找了联系人。

### Traditional Chinese

他自顧不暇，仍幫我找了聯繫人。

tā zì gù bù xiá ， réng bāng wǒ zhǎo le lián xì rén 。

Despite his own pressures, he found me a contact.

## 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=%E8%87%AA%E9%A1%A7%E4%B8%8D%E6%9A%87)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=627&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

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- [自以为是 zì yǐ wéi shì Assume one's own view is always correct ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/zi-yi-wei-shi)

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