朝西过东，两手脱空朝西過東，兩手脫空朝西過東，兩手脱空

head west and pass by the east, both hands empty

Saying俗语俗語

Proverb谚语諺語 · Rarely used now

Meaning: If you try to cover both sides, you end up with nothing. Focus on priorities when conditions are not right for doing everything. Close to 'if you chase two hares, you catch neither'.

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Simplified: 朝西过东，两手脱空
Traditional (Taiwan): 朝西過東，兩手脫空
Traditional (Hong Kong): 朝西過東，兩手脱空
Pinyin: cháo xī guò Dōng, liǎngshǒu tuōkōng
Bopomofo: ㄔㄠˊ ㄒㄧㄍㄨㄛˋ ㄉㄨㄥ，ㄌㄧㄤˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄊㄨㄛㄎㄨㄥ

Written with HSK 7-9 vocabulary, at CEFR level C1.

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