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力不从心

lì bù cóng xīndictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
(idiom) to lack the ability to do what one would wish
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-16c136b10c2f5a93. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

力不從心 力不从心 [li4 bu4 cong2 xin1] /(idiom) to lack the ability to do what one would wish/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 力不從心

  • 力
    lì

    power / force / strength / ability / strenuously

    Lì

    surname Li

  • 不
    bù

    no / not so / (bound form) not / un-

  • 从
    cóng

    from / through / via / (bound form) to follow / (bound form) to obey / (bound form) to engage in (an activity) / (used before a negative) ever / (bound form) (Taiwan pr. [zòng]) retainer / attendant / (bound form) (Taiwan pr. [zòng]) assistant / auxiliary / subordinate / (bound form) (Taiwan pr. [zòng]) related by common paternal grandfather or earlier ancestor

    Cóng

    surname Cong

  • 心
    xīn

    heart / mind / intention / center / core / CL:顆|颗[kē],個|个[gè]

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.