望洋興嘆 wàng yáng xīng tàn

fig. to feel powerless and incompetent (to perform a task)

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

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

Characters

Character Meaning
望 wàng HSK 2
to hope; to expect; to look towards
洋 yáng HSK 4
foreign; ocean; vast
興 xīng
interest in sth; feeling or desire to do sth; excitement
嘆 tàn
to sigh; to exclaim; variant of 嘆tàn