心有餘,力不足 xīn yǒu yú , lì bù zú

I really want to do it, but don't have the resources.

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. I really want to do it, but don't have the resources.
  2. 2. The will is there, but not the strength (idiom, from Confucian Analects).
  3. 3. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Characters

Character Meaning
heart; mind; intention
to have; there is; there are
remaining; surplus; extra
strength; force; power
not; no; (negative prefix)
to be sufficient; foot; ample