鞭长莫及

鞭長莫及

biāncháng-mòjí

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

HSK 5

我想帮他，可惜鞭长莫及。

Wǒ xiǎng bāng tā, kěxī biānchángmòjí.

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

HSK 6

总公司在北京，对海外分部鞭长莫及。

Zǒnggōngsī zài Běijīng, duì hǎiwài fēnbù biānchángmòjí.

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

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