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力所能及

Mandarin · pinyin lì suǒ néng jí

as far as one's capabilities extend (idiom); to the best of one's ability
within one's powers

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Characters in this entry

力: lì · power, capability, influence; Kangxi radical 19
所: suǒ · place, location; numerary adjunct
能: néng · to be able; can, permitted to; ability
及: jí · extend; reach; come up to; and

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

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Mandarin tones

4–3–2–2 · li4 suo3 neng2 ji2

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Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

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

phrase

(idiomatic) within one's power; within one's ability

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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