鞭长莫及

鞭長莫及

biānchángmòjí

idiom #58,319

Meanings

1 the whip is long but cannot reach
2 beyond one's ability to help
3 too far to intervene

Characters

Examples

总公司在北京，对海外分部鞭长莫及。

Zǒnggōngsī zài Běijīng, duì hǎiwài fēnbù biāncháng mòjí.

With headquarters in Beijing, overseas branches are out of reach.

我想帮他，可惜鞭长莫及。

Wǒ xiǎng bāng tā, kěxī biāncháng mòjí.

I'd like to help him, but I'm simply too far away.

Tips

history

From 《左传·宣公十五年》 — 'though the whip is long, it should not strike the horse's belly.' Originally about restraint, the meaning drifted: modern usage is 'the whip is long but still doesn't reach,' i.e. powerless at a distance.

Stroke Order

鞭 biān

长 cháng

莫 mò

及 jí