"serve two masters" in Chinese (Simplified)

• 一心二用
• 同时侍奉两位主子

Definition

试图效忠或为两位有冲突利益的人或团体工作，这会导致无法让两方都满意。通常用来表示不能同时忠于两个对立的阵营。

Usage Notes (Chinese (Simplified))

正式用语，源自圣经，常用于形容分心或利益冲突的场合。不要用于一般的多任务处理。常说“一心二用”或“你不能同时侍奉两位主子”。

Examples

You cannot serve two masters; you have to choose where your loyalty lies.

你不能**一心二用**，必须选择你的忠诚归属。

She found that trying to serve two masters only made her life more complicated.

她发现试图**一心二用**只会让自己的生活更复杂。

If you try to serve two masters, you will end up pleasing no one.

如果你试图**同时侍奉两位主子**，最终谁都讨好不了。

It was obvious the politician was trying to serve two masters and it hurt his reputation.

很明显，这位政客在试图**一心二用**，结果影响了他的声誉。

You can't keep your boss and your old company happy—don't try to serve two masters.

你不可能让你的老板和以前的公司都满意——别试图**一心二用**。

Working for both sides in this deal is a classic way to serve two masters.

在这笔交易中同时为双方工作就是**一心二用**的典型例子。