心有餘，力不足 xīn yǒu yú ， lì bù zú

DEFINITIONS

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

CHARACTERS

心 xīn
HSK 3
heart; mind, intelligence; soul
有 yǒu
HSK 1
have, own, possess; exist
餘 yú surplus, excess, remainder
力 lì
HSK 3
power, capability, influence
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
足 zú
HSK 2
foot; attain, satisfy, enough