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量力而為

简量力而为 · 繁量力而為

Mandarin · pinyin liàng lì ér wéi

to weigh one's abilities and act accordingly
to act according to one's means
to cut one's coat according to one's cloth

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Characters in this entry

量: liàng · measure, quantity, capacity
力: lì · power, capability, influence; Kangxi radical 19
而: ér · and; and then; and yet; but; Kangxi radical 126
為: Look up this written character
为: wèi · do, handle, govern, act; be

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

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Mandarin tones

4–4–2–2 · liang4 li4 er2 wei2

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

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.

量力而為 · find source passages ↗ · 量力而为 · find source passages ↗

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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) synonym of 量力而行 (liànglì'érxíng)

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

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