Definition & Meaning

be unable to do what one would like to; one's ability falling short of one's wishes; one's ability isn’t equal to one's ambition

Word usage

lì bù cóng xīn

力 不 从 心

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Chinese dictionary
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slbe unable to do what one would like to; one's ability falling short of one's wishes; one's ability isn’t equal to one's ambition
- lǎo liú nián shì yǐ gāo gōng zuò yǒu xiē lì bù cóng xīn
  老刘年事已高，工作有些力不从心。
  As Lao Liu is advanced in years, he is not able to work as he would have liked to do.
- tā xiǎng yòng yīng yǔ lái tán huà dàn shì lì bù cóng xīn
  她想用英语来谈话，但是力不从心。
  She tried to carry on a conversation in English, but it far exceeded my ability.
- wǒ xī wàng jīn hòu néng gòu zhú bù gǎi biàn zhè zhǒng lì bù cóng xīn de zhuàng kuàng
  我希望，今后能够逐步改变这种力不从心的状况。
  I hope that from today onwards, I will gradually be able to change this situation of being unable to do as much as we would like.
- shì gù guò hòu tā kāi chē yǐ lì bù cóng xīn
  事故过后，他开车已力不从心。
  After the accident, he didn't feel up to driving.
synonym
wú néng wéi lì无能为力 ài mò néng zhù爱莫能助 yǒu xīn wú lì有心无力 lì suǒ bù jí力所不及 xīn yú lì chù心余力绌

Word usage

Note
1. Sometimes "力不从心" can be used as humility or politely to push back the request; 2. It is often used with a verb of feeling.

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