あぶ
虻
はち
蜂
と
取
　
ら
　
ず

expression

Idiomatic expression.
  1. attempting two tasks at the same time, accomplishing neither, falling between two stools, catching neither the horsefly nor the bee.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
あぶ
虻
はち
蜂
と
取
　
ら
　
ず
 虻蜂取らず あぶはちとらず
　
あ
　
ぶ
　
は
　
ち
と
取
　
ら
　
ず
 あぶはち取らず あぶはちとらず
　
ア
　
ブ
　
ハ
　
チ
と
取
　
ら
　
ず
 アブハチ取らず アブハチとらず
あぶ
虻
はち
蜂
　
と
　
ら
　
ず
 虻蜂とらず あぶはちとらず

Contained Kanji Breakdown

gadfly, horsefly
あぶ　ボウ (Kentei Pre-1)
insect, bug, temper
むし　チュウ　キ (1st, N2)
in, inside, middle
なか　チュウ　うち (1st, N5)
mouth
くち　コウ　ク (1st, N4)
number one, line, rod radical (no. 2)
コン　シ　ジョ
rising stroke
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
deceased, the late, dying
ボウ　な.い　モウ (6th, N3)
kettle lid radical (no. 8)
トウ (Kentei 1)
fishhook radical(乙) variant
bee, wasp, hornet
はち　ホウ　ほ (11th)
insect, bug, temper
むし　チュウ　キ (1st, N2)
in, inside, middle
なか　チュウ　うち (1st, N5)
mouth
くち　コウ　ク (1st, N4)
number one, line, rod radical (no. 2)
コン　シ　ジョ
rising stroke
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
resist
ホウ　フ　バ
late, delayed, winter radical (no. 34)
チ　しゅう (Kentei 1)
abundant, lush, bountiful
ホウ　フ　フウ
three
サン　み　みっ.つ (1st, N5)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
take, fetch, take up
と.る　シュ　とり (3rd, N3)
ear
みみ　ジ　がみ (1st, N3)
or again, furthermore, on the other hand
また　ユウ　やす (8th, N1)