望尘莫及

望塵莫及

wàngchénmòjí

idiom #37,758

Meanings

1 to only see the dust ahead and never catch up
2 to be far outmatched
3 to lag hopelessly behind

Characters

to reach; to catch up

Examples

他的才华我望尘莫及。

Tā de cáihuá wǒ wàngchénmòjí.

His talent is so far beyond mine I can't hope to catch up.

对手的速度让我们望尘莫及。

Duìshǒu de sùdù ràng wǒmen wàngchénmòjí.

Our opponents' speed left us eating dust.

这家公司的技术领先行业，同行望尘莫及。

Zhè jiā gōngsī de jìshù lǐngxiān hángyè, tóngháng wàngchénmòjí.

The company's technology leads the industry; rivals can't come close.

Tips

history

From 《庄子·田子方》 (Yan Hui on Confucius): "夫子奔逸绝尘，而回瞠若乎后矣" — the master races ahead beyond the dust, and I stare after him. 《后汉书·赵咨传》 records a magistrate who escorted Zhao Zi but was left 望尘不及 — watching the dust, unable to catch up. The modern form is 望尘莫及.

usage

Used to admire someone's superior ability (often self-deprecatingly: "我望尘莫及"), or to describe competitors being left far behind. 莫 = cannot; 及 = catch up. Antonym: 不相上下 (on equal terms).

Stroke Order

望 wàng

尘 chén

莫 mò

及 jí