心有餘而力不足
Chinese edit
heart; mind | and; as well as; but (not) and; as well as; but (not); yet (not); (shows causal relation); (shows change of state); (shows contrast) |
power; force; strength | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
trad. (心有餘而力不足) | 心 | 有餘 | 而 | 力 | 不足 | |
simp. (心有余而力不足) | 心 | 有余 | 而 | 力 | 不足 |
Etymology edit
From Dream of the Red Chamber:
- 賈政冷笑道:「你有多大本領!上頭說了一句大開門的散話,如今又要一句連轉帶煞,豈不心有餘而力不足呢?」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
- Jiǎ Zhèng lěng xiàodào: “Nǐ yǒu duōdà běnlǐng! Shàngtóu shuō le yījù dà kāimén de sànhuà, rújīn yòu yào yījù lián zhuǎn dài shā, qǐbù xīnyǒuyú'érlìbùzú ne?” [Pinyin]
- (please add an English translation of this usage example)
贾政冷笑道:「你有多大本领!上头说了一句大开门的散话,如今又要一句连转带煞,岂不心有余而力不足呢?」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation edit
Idiom edit
心有餘而力不足
- the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak; to be unable to do what one wants very much to do; to have the ambition but lack the ability