望塵莫及 wàng chén mò jí

to be far inferior

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. to be far inferior
  2. 2. lit. to see only the other rider's dust and have no hope of catching up (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
望 wàng HSK 2
to hope; to expect; to look towards
塵 chén
dust; dirt; earth
莫 mò HSK 6
do not; surname Mo; there is none who
及 jí HSK 4
to reach; and; up to