每天成语
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力所不及

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: lì suǒ bù jí
  • English Translation: Beyond one's power (out of one's reach)
  • Idiom Composition: 「力」（Power, strength, or ability.）＋「所」（A particle used before a verb to form a noun phrase, meaning 'that which' or 'the thing that'.）＋「不」（Not; a negation.）＋「及」（To reach, attain, or come up to.）
  • Meaning: To be beyond the scope of one's ability, power, or authority. It is used to describe a situation where a goal or standard cannot be reached due to objective limitations.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「力所不及」 contains the following nuances:

  • Objective Limitation: The focus is on the objective fact of impossibility rather than the subjective regret of 'the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.' It describes a hard boundary of capability.
  • Outside of Scope: It implies not just a lack of physical strength, but that the matter falls outside one's jurisdiction, authority, or reach.

3. Usage

「力所不及」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Declining or Refusing: Used as a formal or polite way to decline a task or request by stating it exceeds one's current abilities.
    • Example:「这件事情太复杂，实在是我力所不及，恐怕帮不上忙。」
      （This matter is too complex; it is truly beyond my power, and I'm afraid I cannot help.)
  • Objective Assessment: Used to objectively evaluate that a challenge or goal is impossible for a specific person or organization to achieve.
    • Example:「虽然医生尽了最大努力，但挽救他的生命已是人力所不及。」
      （Although the doctors did their best, saving his life was already beyond human reach.)
  • Economic or Physical Limits: Used when financial resources or physical conditions are insufficient to obtain or achieve something.
    • Example:「那栋别墅价格昂贵，对我来说是力所不及的奢侈品。」
      （That villa is expensive; for me, it is a luxury beyond my means.)

Additional Examples:

  1. 面对大自然的威力，人类常常感到力所不及。
    （Facing the power of nature, humanity often feels powerless.）
  2. 有些问题是科学目前力所不及的。
    （Some problems are beyond the reach of current science.）
  3. 我也想资助所有的贫困儿童，但这显然是我力所不及的。
    （I want to support all poor children, but that is clearly beyond my capability.）
  4. 对于超出自己职责范围的事，他往往力所不及。
    （Regarding matters outside his scope of responsibility, he is often unable to intervene.）
  5. 这并非我不愿意做，而是力所不及。
    （It's not that I'm unwilling to do it, but rather that it's beyond my power.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • The phrase can be traced back to historical texts such as the Shimen Wenzizhan (石门文字禅) from the Song Dynasty (宋朝), which discusses matters that are 'beyond public power' (公力所不及之义).
  • In terms of nuance, while the similar idiom 力不从心 (lì bù cóng xīn) emphasizes the subjective feeling of 'the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,' 力所不及 (lì suǒ bù jí) is a more neutral, factual statement regarding one's limitations.
  • It is used in both formal writing and daily conversation. It can serve as a humble way to admit one's limits or a realistic assessment of a situation's difficulty.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

力所不及 (lì suǒ bù jí) is an idiom used to express that something exceeds one's capabilities or authority. While the similar phrase 力不从心 (lì bù cóng xīn) emphasizes the internal frustration of wanting to do something but lacking the strength, 力所不及 (lì suǒ bù jí) is more objective. It is frequently used to state a fact or as a polite way to decline a request by acknowledging one's professional or personal limits.

Featured in the Chuken exam (Japan's Chinese test)Level 1

Idiom Essay

lì suǒ bù jí
力所不及
Beyond One's Power
shēng huó生活zhōng中，wǒ men我们cháng cháng常常huì会yǒu有zhè yàng这样de的shí kè时刻。

In life, we often have moments like this.

kàn看zhe着yǎn qián眼前fā shēng发生de的shì qíng事情，xīn lǐ心里hěn很xiǎng想zuò做diǎn点shén me什么qù去gǎi biàn改变tā它，huò zhě或者qù去bāng zhù帮助shuí谁，dàn但shēn chū伸出shǒu手cái才fā xiàn发现，zì jǐ自己zhēn de真的gòu bù zhe够不着。

Looking at what is happening before us, we really want to do something to change it or help someone, but when we reach out, we realize we truly cannot reach it.

zhōng wén中文lǐ里，yǒu有yí gè一个cí词zhuān mén专门yòng lái用来xíng róng形容zhè zhǒng这种zhuàng tài状态，jiào叫“lì suǒ bù jí力所不及”。

In Chinese, there is a specific term to describe this state called 力所不及.

zhè ge这个chéng yǔ成语de的jié gòu结构hěn很jiǎn dān简单。

The structure of this idiom is very simple.

“lì力”shì是lì liàng力量、néng lì能力；“jí及”shì是dá dào达到。

力 means strength or ability; 及 means to reach.

lián连qǐ lái起来de的yì si意思jiù shì就是：zhè这jiàn件shì事suǒ所xū yào需要de的lì liàng力量，chāo guò超过le了wǒ我néng能dá dào达到de的fàn wéi范围。

Put together, it means: the strength required for this matter exceeds the range I can reach.

qǐng请zhù yì注意，tā它hé和“bù xiǎng不想zuò做”wán quán完全shì是liǎng huí shì两回事。

Please note, it is completely different from 'not wanting to do it.'

shuō chū说出“lì suǒ bù jí力所不及”de的shí hòu时候，wǎng wǎng往往shì是yīn wèi因为wǒ men我们qí shí其实hěn很xiǎng想zuò做，shèn zhì甚至yǐ jīng已经nǔ lì努力shì试guò过le了，dàn但zuì zhōng最终bù dé bù不得不miàn duì面对xiàn shí现实de的xiàn zhì限制。

When we say 力所不及, it is often because we actually really want to do it, or have even tried hard, but ultimately have to face the limitations of reality.

zhè zhǒng这种gǎn jué感觉，zài在chéng nián rén成年人de的shì jiè世界lǐ里yóu qí尤其cháng jiàn常见。

This feeling is especially common in the adult world.

bǐ rú比如，nǐ你hěn很xiǎng想bāng帮yī wèi一位hǎo péng yǒu好朋友zǒu chū走出dī gǔ低谷。

For example, you really want to help a good friend get through a low point.

nǐ你kě yǐ可以péi陪tā他liáo tiān聊天，kě yǐ可以gěi给tā他jiàn yì建议，dàn但nǐ你wú fǎ无法tì替tā他chéng shòu承受nèi xīn内心de的tòng kǔ痛苦，yě也wú fǎ无法tì替tā他zuò chū做出rén shēng人生de的xuǎn zé选择。

You can chat with them and give advice, but you cannot endure their inner pain for them, nor can you make life choices for them.

nà ge那个zuì最hé xīn核心de的bù fèn部分，jiù shì就是nǐ你“lì suǒ bù jí力所不及”de的。

That core part is what is 力所不及 for you.

yòu又bǐ rú比如，miàn duì面对mǒu zhǒng某种jù dà巨大de的zì rán自然biàn huà变化huò或fù zá复杂de的huán jìng环境，gè rén个人de的lì liàng力量xiǎn de显得tài太miǎo xiǎo渺小le了，zhè这yě也shì是yī zhǒng一种“lì suǒ bù jí力所不及”。

Another example is facing massive natural changes or complex environments where individual strength seems too small; this is also a kind of 力所不及.

suī rán虽然zhè ge这个cí词tīng qǐ lái听起来yǒu有yì diǎn一点wú nài无奈，dàn但tā它qí shí其实bìng并bù不xiāo jí消极。

Although this term sounds a bit helpless, it is not actually negative.

xué huì学会shǐ yòng使用“lì suǒ bù jí力所不及”，qí shí其实shì是zài在xué xí学习rú hé如何yǔ与zì jǐ自己hé jiě和解。

Learning to use 力所不及 is actually learning how to make peace with yourself.

tā它huà chū划出le了yī tiáo一条qīng xī清晰de的jiè xiàn界限：jiè xiàn界限zhè biān这边，shì是wǒ我néng能zuò做de的，wǒ我huì会quán lì yǐ fù全力以赴；jiè xiàn界限nà biān那边，shì是wǒ我kòng zhì控制bù不le了de的，wǒ我jiù就bù zài不再guò fèn过分zé guài责怪zì jǐ自己。

It draws a clear boundary: on this side is what I can do, and I will give it my all; on that side is what I cannot control, and I will no longer blame myself excessively.

chéng rèn承认“lì suǒ bù jí力所不及”，bìng并bú shì不是yī zhǒng一种ruǎn ruò软弱，ér shì而是yī zhǒng一种duì对xiàn shí现实de的chéng shí诚实。

Admitting 力所不及 is not a form of weakness, but a form of honesty toward reality.

xià cì下次，dāng当nǐ你fā xiàn发现wú lùn无论zěn me怎么nǔ lì努力，shì qíng事情yī rán依然wú fǎ无法gǎi biàn改变shí时，yě xǔ也许kě yǐ可以shì zhe试着duì对zì jǐ自己shuō说：wǒ我yǐ jīng已经jìn lì尽力le了，shèng xià剩下de的，què shí确实shì是lì suǒ bù jí力所不及。

Next time, when you find that no matter how hard you try, things still cannot change, perhaps you can try saying to yourself: I have done my best, and the rest is indeed 力所不及.

nà那yī kè一刻，nǐ你yě xǔ也许huì会gǎn dào感到yī zhǒng一种shì rán释然。

At that moment, you might feel a sense of relief.

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