Chinese

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hands and feet helpless
trad. (手足無措) 手足 無措
simp. (手足无措) 手足 无措
Literally: “to have no way to move the hands or feet”.

Etymology

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From the Analects, Book 13 (《論語·子路》):

不正不成不成禮樂禮樂刑罰刑罰措手足 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
不正不成不成礼乐礼乐刑罚刑罚措手足 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Míng bù zhèng, zé yán bù shùn; yán bù shùn, zé shì bù chéng; shì bù chéng, zé lǐyuè bù xīng; lǐyuè bù xīng, zé xíngfá bù zhòng; xíngfá bù zhòng, zé mín suǒ cuò shǒuzú. [Pinyin]
If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things. If language be not in accordance with the truth of things, affairs cannot be carried on to success. When affairs cannot be carried on to success, proprieties and music will not flourish. When proprieties and music do not flourish, punishments will not be properly awarded. When punishments are not properly awarded, the people do not know how to move hand or foot.

Pronunciation

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Idiom

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手足無措

  1. to be at a loss for what to do