English–Chinese
“be caught off guard” in Chinese
Chinese
Pronunciation
Pinyincuò shǒu bù jí
Example
会议突然延长，我有点措手不及。huì yì tū rán yán cháng wǒ yóu diǎn cuò shǒu bù jí
The meeting suddenly ran long, and I was a little caught off guard.
How to say “be caught off guard” in Chinese
“Be caught off guard” in Chinese is 措手不及 (cuò shǒu bù jí).
An unexpected situation moves faster than preparation, leaving the immediate problem beyond practical control.
Example sentences with 措手不及
突如其来的变化让人措手不及。tū rú qí lái de biàn huà ràng rén cuò shǒu bù jí
The sudden change caught people off guard.
Tips for using 措手不及
- For English-speaking learners, the useful usage distinction is that the expression highlights the response problem after a surprise, not merely the fact that something was unexpected.