yì一onechóu筹planmò莫notzhǎn展unfold
At wit's end; unable to find a solution.
Literal meaning
one (一) — plan (筹) — not (莫) — unfold (展)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing a situation where one is unable to think of a solution.
Examples
miàn面duì对zhè这ge个nán难tí题，tā他yì一chóu筹mò莫zhǎn展。
Faced with this difficult problem, he was at wit's end.
zhè这ge个wèn问tí题tài太fù复zá杂le了，wǒ我yì一chóu筹mò莫zhǎn展。
This problem is too complicated, and I am unable to find a solution.
Usage & nuances
Describes a feeling of helplessness and inability to solve a problem.
Learn idioms by speaking them
Idioms are most useful when they land in a real conversation. Practice them out loud in Kango — get instant feedback on tone and timing.
Download Kango on iOS