左支右绌 zuǒzhīyòuchù unable to cope Origin Definitions Defs Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 左 zuǒ to assist to assist; to aid; to accompany; (variant of 佐 zuǒ)支 zhī verbnoun to prop up to erect; to set up; to hold up with a physical support; to support a physical structure右 yòu to assist (literary) to help or support; equivalent to 佑 yòu绌 絀 chù insufficient (bound form) insufficient; deficient; short of