心有余，力不足

Traditional: 心有餘，力不足

xīn yǒu yú , lì bù zú

Dictionary entry

The will is there, but not the strength (idiom, from Confucian Analects).

What does 心有余，力不足 mean?

心有余，力不足 (xīn yǒu yú , lì bù zú) has the following dictionary meaning.

1The will is there, but not the strength (idiom, from Confucian Analects).

2I really want to do it, but don't have the resources.

3The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Character breakdown

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心xīnheart · mind 有yǒuto have; there is · (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意[you3 yi4] intentional)余Yúsurname Yu 力Lìsurname Li 不bùno; not so · (bound form) not; un-足jùexcessive

Reviewed examples

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How to pronounce 心有余，力不足

心有余，力不足

xīn yǒu yú , lì bù zú

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Base dictionary data: CC-CEDICT · CC BY-SA 4.0.