dōng​zhēng​xī​tǎo

to fight on all sides

  1. [haphazard]
    Used in patterns with 西 to describe moving in different directions, acting in a scattered way, or doing something haphazardly.
  2. zhēng verbnoun
    to go on a campaign
    (bound form) to go on a military expedition; to attack or suppress
  3. 西 verb
    here and there
    (bound form) used in tandem with dōng to indicate various places, directions, or a lack of order
  4. to send a punitive force
    to send armed forces to suppress; to deal with militarily; to go on a punitive expedition