lì bù cóng xīn: 力不从心 - The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak

• Keywords: 力不从心, li bu cong xin, lì bù cóng xīn, meaning of li bu cong xin, spirit is willing but flesh is weak Chinese, Chinese idiom for burnout, not enough strength, feel powerless Chinese, want to do but can't, Chinese Chengyu
• Summary: Discover the meaning of the Chinese idiom 力不从心 (lì bù cóng xīn), a powerful phrase describing the feeling when you want to do something but lack the strength or ability. Often translated as “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” this term perfectly captures the frustration of feeling powerless or experiencing burnout, whether due to age, workload, or other limitations. Understanding lì bù cóng xīn is key to grasping a common sentiment in Chinese culture about personal limits and the gap between ambition and reality.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lì bù cóng xīn
• Part of Speech: Idiom (Chengyu / 成语), Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To feel that one's abilities or strength are not adequate to fulfill one's desires.
• In a Nutshell: 力不从心 is that distinct, frustrating feeling when your mind and heart are fully committed to a task, but your body, energy, or resources simply can't keep up. It’s not about being lazy or unmotivated; it's the opposite. It's about having the motivation but hitting a genuine wall of incapacity. Think of an elderly grandparent who wants to run around with their grandchildren but gets tired after a few minutes, or a dedicated employee who wants to excel on three major projects at once but is simply overwhelmed.

• 力 (lì): Strength, power, force. The character originally depicted a plow, a tool requiring great physical strength to use.
• 不 (bù): No, not. A simple but powerful character for negation.
• 从 (cóng): To follow, from, to obey. The character shows one person (人) following another, conveying the idea of accompaniment or following instructions.
• 心 (xīn): Heart, mind, intention. This character is a pictogram of the human heart, but in Chinese, it represents the seat of both emotion and thought.

When combined, the characters create a vivid, literal picture: “Strength (力) does not (不) follow (从) the heart/mind (心).” Your physical power or ability cannot follow the commands of your intentions.

力不从心 touches upon a deep-seated cultural value in China: the expectation of diligence, contribution, and fulfilling one's responsibilities. There is often a strong desire to try one's best (尽力, jìnlì) for the sake of family, a company, or a collective goal. This idiom gives voice to the painful and sympathetic situation where that desire exists, but the physical or practical means do not. In Western culture, a similar concept might be “burnout” or feeling “overextended.” However, there's a key difference. “Burnout” often carries a connotation of a systemic failure—poor work-life balance, a toxic job environment—and the solution is often seen as changing the external circumstances. 力不从心 is more internal and personal. It speaks to a fundamental mismatch between one's will and one's capacity, which can be due to age, illness, or overwhelming circumstances. It often evokes a sense of sympathy and resignation rather than a call to action. It acknowledges a personal limit with a sigh, not a protest.

This idiom is common in both spoken and written Chinese. It's used to express personal feelings or to describe someone else's situation with empathy.

• Expressing Personal Limitations: It's frequently used to explain why you can't do something you genuinely wish you could. It's a way of saying “I want to, but I just can't” without sounding like you're making a lazy excuse.
• Describing Others: You might use it to talk about an aging parent, an overworked colleague, or even a government agency struggling to cope with a crisis. In this context, it shows understanding and compassion for their struggle.
• Connotation: It is almost always sympathetic and carries a slightly negative or sad feeling. It is a statement of fact tinged with regret.
• Formality: It can be used in both formal writing and informal conversation.

• Example 1:
  • 爷爷想帮我们搬家，但是他年纪大了，有点儿力不从心。
  • Pinyin: Yéye xiǎng bāng wǒmen bānjiā, dànshì tā niánjì dà le, yǒudiǎnr lì bù cóng xīn.
  • English: Grandpa wanted to help us move, but he's gotten old and just doesn't have the strength anymore.
  • Analysis: This is a classic use case, linking 力不从心 with the natural limitations of old age. The tone is gentle and understanding.
• Example 2:
  • 老板同时给了我三个大项目，我真的感觉力不从心。
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn tóngshí gěile wǒ sān ge dà xiàngmù, wǒ zhēn de gǎnjué lì bù cóng xīn.
  • English: The boss gave me three big projects at the same time; I truly feel overwhelmed and unable to cope.
  • Analysis: Here, it's used in a work context to describe being overwhelmed. It implies the speaker *wants* to do a good job but lacks the time and energy.
• Example 3:
  • 我很想学好钢琴，可是每天下班后都太累了，真是力不从心。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ hěn xiǎng xuéhǎo gāngqín, kěshì měitiān xiàbān hòu dōu tài lèi le, zhēnshì lì bù cóng xīn.
  • English: I really want to learn the piano well, but I'm too exhausted after work every day; I just don't have the energy.
  • Analysis: This example highlights the conflict between personal ambition (learning piano) and the realities of a demanding life.
• Example 4:
  • 看到这么多需要帮助的人，我们这些志愿者有时也会感到力不从心。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào zhème duō xūyào bāngzhù de rén, wǒmen zhèxiē zhìyuànzhě yǒushí yě huì gǎndào lì bù cóng xīn.
  • English: Seeing so many people in need, we volunteers also sometimes feel that our efforts aren't enough to make a difference.
  • Analysis: This shows the idiom can apply to resources and scale, not just physical strength. The desire to help is huge, but the resources are limited.
• Example 5:
  • 他大病初愈，想马上恢复锻炼，却发现身体完全力不从心。
  • Pinyin: Tā dà bìng chū yù, xiǎng mǎshàng huīfù duànliàn, què fāxiàn shēntǐ wánquán lì bù cóng xīn.
  • English: He had just recovered from a major illness and wanted to start exercising again immediately, only to find his body was completely unable to keep up.
  • Analysis: This connects the idiom to recovery from illness, another common scenario where the mind is willing but the body is weak.
• Example 6:
  • 很抱歉，你的请求我力不从心，实在帮不了你。
  • Pinyin: Hěn bàoqiàn, nǐ de qǐngqiú wǒ lì bù cóng xīn, shízài bāng bu liǎo nǐ.
  • English: I'm very sorry, but regarding your request, I'm powerless to help. I really can't do it.
  • Analysis: This is a polite way to decline a request for help, emphasizing that the reason is a lack of ability, not a lack of willingness.
• Example 7:
  • 面对复杂的市场变化，这家老公司在创新方面显得力不从心。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì fùzá de shìchǎng biànhuà, zhè jiā lǎo gōngsī zài chuàngxīn fāngmiàn xiǎnde lì bù cóng xīn.
  • English: Faced with complex market changes, this old company seemed unable to keep up when it came to innovation.
  • Analysis: The idiom can be used to describe an organization, not just a person. It suggests the company has the desire to adapt but lacks the structure, resources, or agility.
• Example 8:
  • 唉，想把家里收拾干净，可看看这乱七八糟的，力不从心啊！
  • Pinyin: Āi, xiǎng bǎ jiālǐ shōushi gānjìng, kě kànkan zhè luànqībāzāo de, lì bù cóng xīn a!
  • English: Ugh, I want to clean the house, but looking at this huge mess, I feel totally overwhelmed!
  • Analysis: Used as an exclamation, it perfectly captures the feeling of being defeated by the sheer scale of a task before you even begin.
• Example 9:
  • 虽然政府投入了很多资金，但在彻底解决贫困问题上仍感到力不从心。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán zhèngfǔ tóurùle hěn duō zījīn, dàn zài chèdǐ jiějué pínkùn wèntí shàng réng gǎndào lì bù cóng xīn.
  • English: Although the government has invested a lot of funds, it still feels its efforts are insufficient to completely solve the problem of poverty.
  • Analysis: This shows the term used on a macro, societal level. The 'strength' here refers to funds and policies, and the 'heart' is the political will to solve a problem.
• Example 10:
  • 老师很想回答每个学生的问题，但班里人太多了，他常常力不从心。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī hěn xiǎng huídá měi ge xuéshēng de wèntí, dàn bān lǐ rén tài duō le, tā chángcháng lì bù cóng xīn.
  • English: The teacher really wants to answer every student's question, but with so many people in the class, he often finds it impossible.
  • Analysis: A relatable example showing how even a dedicated professional can be limited by circumstances (in this case, class size).

• It's Not an Excuse for Laziness: The most common mistake is using 力不从心 when you simply don't feel like doing something. This idiom requires a genuine desire to act. If you don't want to do your homework, you should say “我不想做功课” (wǒ bù xiǎng zuò gōngkè), not “我力不从心”. Using it incorrectly makes you sound either overly dramatic or insincere.
• Different from Just “Tired”: While being tired (累, lèi) can lead to feeling 力不从心, they aren't the same. “Tired” is a temporary state you can often push through. 力不从心 implies you've reached a hard limit where your ability has completely failed to match your intention. It's a deeper, more profound state of incapacity.
• Incorrect Usage:
  • Wrong: 我今天很懒，洗碗都觉得力不从心。 (Wǒ jīntiān hěn lǎn, xǐwǎn dōu juéde lì bù cóng xīn.) → I'm very lazy today, I feel powerless to even wash the dishes. (This is wrong because the cause is laziness, not a genuine inability.)
  • Correct: 我发烧了，虽然知道该洗碗，但是站都站不稳，真是力不从心。 (Wǒ fāshāo le, suīrán zhīdào gāi xǐwǎn, dànshì zhàn dōu zhàn bu wěn, zhēnshì lì bù cóng xīn.) → I have a fever. Even though I know I should wash the dishes, I can't even stand steadily. I truly don't have the strength.

• 心有余而力不足 (xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú) - A more formal, unabridged version of the same idiom. It literally means “the heart/mind has a surplus, but the strength is insufficient.” (Synonym)
• 有心无力 (yǒu xīn wú lì) - “To have the heart/intention but lack the power/strength.” A very close and common synonym.
• 爱莫能助 (ài mò néng zhù) - Willing/loving to help but unable to do so. This is often used specifically when you can't help someone else, whereas 力不从心 is more often about one's own tasks.
• 筋疲力尽 (jīn pí lì jìn) - “Muscles weary, strength exhausted.” This describes the physical state of extreme exhaustion that often causes the feeling of 力不从心.
• 无可奈何 (wú kě nài hé) - To be helpless; to have no way out. This describes the feeling of resignation that often results from being in a 力不从心 situation.
• 得心应手 (dé xīn yìng shǒu) - “The mind gets it, the hand responds.” Describes doing something with great skill and ease. (Antonym)
• 游刃有余 (yóu rèn yǒu yú) - “To move a blade with plenty of room to spare.” An idiom for handling a task effortlessly and with mastery. (Antonym)