力有不逮

lìyǒu-bùdài

idiom

Meanings

1 to lack the ability to do something
2 to be beyond one's power
3 willing but unable

Characters

strength; ability

(literary) to reach; extend to

Examples

他想帮助朋友，却力有不逮。

Tā péngyǒu, què lìyǒubùdài.

He wanted to help his friend, but it was beyond his power.

面对如此复杂的问题，就连专家也感到力有不逮。

Rúcǐ de wèntí, jiù lìyǒubùdài.

Faced with such a complex problem, even the experts found themselves unable.

我想照顾每一个细节，实在力有不逮。

Wǒ yī gè, lìyǒubùdài.

I want to take care of every detail, but I really lack the ability.

Tips

usage

Literally 'strength has [a place where it] does not reach'. The 逮 here takes its literary dài reading ('to reach, extend to'), not the colloquial dǎi ('to catch'). A common variant form is 力有未逮 — same meaning, 未 replacing 不.

register

More formal than 做不到 ('can't do it'). Use in writing, speeches, or polite admissions of inadequacy; rarely heard in casual speech.

Stroke Order

力 lì

有 yǒu

不 bù

逮 dǎi