chāi​dōng​bǔ​xī

to rob Peter to pay Paul

  1. to demolish
    To pull down or dismantle a structure
  2. [haphazard]
    Used in patterns with 西 to describe moving in different directions, acting in a scattered way, or doing something haphazardly.
  3. to mend
    to repair or patch something broken or damaged, such as clothes or a road
  4. 西 verb
    here and there
    (bound form) used in tandem with dōng to indicate various places, directions, or a lack of order