DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

力不從心

简力不从心 · 繁力不從心

Mandarin · pinyin lì bù cóng xīn

Characters in this entry

力: lì · power, capability, influence; Kangxi radical 19
不: bù · no, not; un-; negative prefix
從: cóng · from, by, since, whence, through
心: xīn · heart; mind, intelligence; soul; 5th lunar mansion, determinative star α Scorpii (Antares)
从: cóng · from, by, since, whence, through

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

4–4–2–1 · li4 bu4 cong2 xin1

Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

5character links

Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.

Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

lik6 bat1 cung4 sam1

Cantonese word readings for 力不從心. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

lik6 bat1 cung4 sam1

Pleco · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Word reading; meanings not aligned.

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

(idiomatic) to lack the ability to do what one wants; one's strength does not match one's ambitions; the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak