力不从心

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: lì bù cóng xīn
• English Translation: The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (strength falling short of one's will)
• Idiom Composition: 「力」（Strength, power, or physical ability in this context.）＋「不」（Not.）＋「从」（To follow, obey, or comply with.）＋「心」（Heart, mind, or will.）
• Meaning: To describe a situation where one has the desire or will to do something, but lacks the necessary strength, ability, or resources to carry it out.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「力不从心」 contains the following nuances:

• The Gap Between Will and Ability: The core of this idiom is the dilemma of 'wanting to' but 'not being able to.' It is not used for a simple lack of interest; it assumes a positive intention or desire is already present.
• Subjective Helplessness: Beyond the objective fact of being unable to do something, the phrase focuses on the individual's internal feeling of frustration or regret.
• Implication of Decline: Depending on the context, it often carries a nuance of 'I used to be able to do this, but now I cannot,' making it a common expression for those experiencing a decline in health or energy.

3. Usage

「力不从心」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Aging and Health: The most typical usage, lamenting that one's body can no longer keep up with one's desires due to getting older.
  • Example:「父亲想帮我搬家，但他毕竟年纪大了，有些力不从心。」
    （My father wanted to help me move, but he is getting older after all, and found that his strength was falling short of his will.）
• Work and Pressure: Used when a task is too difficult or the workload is too heavy for one's current capabilities.
  • Example:「面对如此复杂的项目，即使我有心做好，也感到力不从心。」
    （Facing such a complex project, even though I want to do a good job, I can't help but feel overwhelmed and under-qualified.）
• Polite Refusal: A way to decline a request or position by claiming that while you would like to help, you lack the capacity, thus avoiding giving offense.
  • Example:「承蒙厚爱，但这职位责任重大，我实在力不从心，只能婉拒。」
    （I appreciate the kind offer, but this position carries great responsibility and I feel it is beyond my current capacity, so I must politely decline.）

Additional Examples:

1. 看着孩子们受苦却无法帮忙，这种力不从心的感觉真让人难受。
   （Watching the children suffer without being able to help, this sense of powerlessness is truly painful.）
2. 随着公司规模扩大，他在管理上越来越感到力不从心。
   （As the company expanded, he increasingly felt that he was hitting his limits in terms of management.）
3. 我想把每件事都做到完美，但时间和精力有限，往往力不从心。
   （I want to do everything perfectly, but with limited time and energy, I often find that my reach exceeds my grasp.）
4. 这也是没办法的事，并非你不努力，而是客观条件让人力不从心。
   （It can't be helped; it's not that you aren't trying, but the objective conditions make it impossible to succeed.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The phrase originates from the Book of the Later Han (后汉书 - Hòu Hàn Shū), specifically the 'Biographies of the Western Regions.' It originally described how various states lacked the military power to follow their own interests or the central government's will.
• In modern usage, the scope has shifted from the political/military strength of nations to the personal ability and physical stamina of individuals.
• While the idiom 无能为力 (wú néng wéi lì) implies a total lack of power or a completely hopeless situation, 力不从心 (lì bù cóng xīn) emphasizes the personal regret and the specific gap between one's high aspirations and limited reality.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 心有余而力不足 (xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú): Literally 'the heart has surplus but the strength is insufficient.' It is almost synonymous with 力不从心 (lì bù cóng xīn) but is more colloquial and explanatory.
  • 无能为力 (wú néng wéi lì): To be powerless or unable to help. This emphasizes a total lack of ability to change a situation.link
  • 力所不及 (lì suǒ bù jí): Beyond one's power or ability.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 得心应手 (dé xīn yìng shǒu): Literally 'what the heart wishes, the hand accomplishes.' It describes performing a task with great ease and skill.
  • 游刃有余 (yóu rèn yǒu yú): To do something with skill and ease, as if one has plenty of room to maneuver; to be more than equal to a task.
  • 力所能及 (lì suǒ néng jí): Do what one is capable of doing.link
  • 轻而易举 (qīng ér yì jǔ): Something that is easy to do and requires little effort.link

6. Summary

力不从心 (lì bù cóng xīn) is a common idiom used to express the frustrating gap between one's 'heart' (intentions) and 'strength' (reality). It is most frequently used when discussing the limitations brought on by aging, or when a person feels overwhelmed by the sheer scale of a responsibility.