望洋兴叹 wàng yáng xīng tàn

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to gaze at the ocean and lament one's inadequacy (idiom)
  2. fig. to feel powerless and incompetent (to perform a task)

CHARACTERS

望 wàng
HSK 2
to look at, look forward; to hope, expect
洋 yáng
HSK 4
ocean, sea; foreign; western
兴 xīng
HSK 1
thrive, prosper, flourish
叹 tàn
HSK 6
sigh, admire