xinyouyuerlibuzu: 心有余而力不足 - The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak

• Keywords: 心有余而力不足, xinyouyuerlibuzu, xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú, Chinese idiom for inability, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, willing but unable, chengyu about wanting to help, polite refusal in Chinese, have the will but not the power.
• Summary: The Chinese idiom (chengyu) 心有余而力不足 (xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú) literally means “the heart has a surplus, but strength is not enough.” It perfectly captures the feeling of genuinely wanting to do something or help someone, but being unable to due to a lack of ability, resources, energy, or authority. Often translated as “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” this phrase is a common and culturally appropriate way to express sincere regret when declining a request or acknowledging one's own limitations.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú
• Part of Speech: Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ)
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: To be willing to do something but lack the power or ability to do it.
• In a Nutshell: This idiom describes a frustrating situation where your intentions and desires are strong, but you are held back by practical constraints. It's not about being lazy or unwilling; it's about a genuine mismatch between your will and your capacity. It conveys a feeling of helplessness and sincere regret, making it a very useful phrase in social interactions.

• 心 (xīn): Heart; mind; intention; will.
• 有 (yǒu): To have; there is.
• 余 (yú): Surplus; excess; abundance.
• 而 (ér): A conjunction meaning “but” or “and yet,” indicating a contrast.
• 力 (lì): Strength; power; ability; resources.
• 不 (bù): Not; no.
• 足 (zú): Enough; sufficient; adequate.

When combined, the characters literally paint a picture: “The heart/will has a surplus (心有余), but (而) the strength/ability is not enough (力不足).” This vivid construction makes the meaning clear and memorable.

This idiom is deeply rooted in a culture that values politeness, humility, and maintaining social harmony. In many Western cultures, a direct “No, I can't” is acceptable. In China, however, such a direct refusal can be seen as blunt and might cause the other person to lose 面子 (miànzi), or “face.” Using 心有余而力不足 is a masterful way to soften a refusal. It communicates: 1. Empathy: “I understand your need and I wish I could help.” 2. Respect: “Your request is reasonable, and the failure to fulfill it is due to my own limitations, not a lack of willingness.” 3. Humility: It's a self-deprecating way to explain your inability without sounding arrogant or dismissive. Comparison to “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”: While this is the closest English equivalent, there's a key difference. The English phrase often implies a personal, physical weakness (e.g., aging, illness, temptation). 心有余而力不足 is much broader. The “力 (lì)” can refer to a lack of physical strength, but it's just as often used for a lack of money, time, authority, skills, or any other resource. For example, a manager who wants to give you a raise but has no budget from headquarters is a perfect case of 心有余而力不足.

This phrase is extremely common and can be used in both formal and informal settings, from conversations with friends to official government statements.

This is the most frequent use. When someone asks you for a favor you cannot grant (e.g., a large loan, a demanding time commitment), this phrase is the perfect way to decline gracefully.

People often use it to talk about their own situations, especially concerning ambitions versus reality. An elderly person might use it to describe wanting to play with their grandchildren but lacking the energy. A young professional might use it to describe wanting to start a business but lacking the capital.

A company spokesperson or government official might use this phrase to explain why a certain goal wasn't met despite good intentions, citing budget cuts or unforeseen circumstances.

• Example 1:
  • 很多朋友都想让我帮他们找工作，但我只是个普通职员，真是心有余而力不足啊。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō péngyou dōu xiǎng ràng wǒ bāng tāmen zhǎo gōngzuò, dàn wǒ zhǐshì ge pǔtōng zhíyuán, zhēnshi xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú a.
  • English: A lot of friends want me to help them find jobs, but I'm just a regular employee. I'm truly willing but unable to help.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of a polite refusal for a favor that is beyond the speaker's authority or capability.
• Example 2:
  • 爷爷很想跟我们去爬山，可惜他年纪大了，心有余而力不足。
  • Pinyin: Yéye hěn xiǎng gēn wǒmen qù páshān, kěxī tā niánjì dà le, xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú.
  • English: Grandpa really wants to go hiking with us, but unfortunately, he's too old; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
  • Analysis: Here, the idiom refers specifically to a lack of physical strength due to age.
• Example 3:
  • 我非常想资助这个贫困学生完成学业，但我自己的经济也很紧张，实在是心有余而力不足。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ fēicháng xiǎng zīzhù zhège pínkùn xuéshēng wánchéng xuéyè, dàn wǒ zìjǐ de jīngjì yě hěn jǐnzhāng, shízài shì xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú.
  • English: I really want to sponsor this underprivileged student to finish their studies, but my own finances are tight. I honestly have the will but not the means.
  • Analysis: This example clearly shows the “力 (lì)” referring to financial resources.
• Example 4:
  • 经理也知道大家工作很辛苦，想给我们加薪，但是公司今年的预算不够，他也是心有余而力不足。
  • Pinyin: Jīnglǐ yě zhīdào dàjiā gōngzuò hěn xīnkǔ, xiǎng gěi wǒmen jiāxīn, dànshì gōngsī jīnnián de yùsuàn bùgòu, tā yěshì xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú.
  • English: The manager knows everyone works hard and wants to give us a raise, but the company's budget isn't sufficient this year, so he's also willing but unable.
  • Analysis: A common business scenario where the limitation is budget and authority, not personal will.
• Example 5:
  • 面对这么复杂的项目，我一个人实在是心有余而力不足，需要团队的帮助。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì zhème fùzá de xiàngmù, wǒ yí ge rén shízài shì xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú, xūyào tuánduì de bāngzhù.
  • English: Facing such a complex project, I alone am truly unable to handle it despite my willingness; I need the team's help.
  • Analysis: Here, the “力 (lì)” refers to a lack of time, skills, or manpower to complete a task alone.
• Example 6:
  • 看到灾区人民的困境，我们都想尽一份力，但能做的太少了，有种心有余而力不足的感觉。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào zāiqū rénmín de kùnjìng, wǒmen dōu xiǎng jìn yí fèn lì, dàn néng zuò de tài shǎo le, yǒu zhǒng xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú de gǎnjué.
  • English: Seeing the plight of the people in the disaster area, we all want to do our part, but what we can do is so little. There's a feeling of being willing but powerless.
  • Analysis: This conveys a broader, more emotional sense of helplessness in the face of a large-scale problem.
• Example 7:
  • 他很想戒烟，但试了很多次都失败了，真是心有余而力不足。
  • Pinyin: Tā hěn xiǎng jièyān, dàn shìle hěn duō cì dōu shībài le, zhēnshi xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú.
  • English: He really wants to quit smoking, but he's tried many times and failed. It's a case of the spirit being willing but the flesh being weak.
  • Analysis: This usage is very close to the English equivalent, referring to a lack of willpower or addiction overcoming intention.
• Example 8:
  • 政府想解决所有城市的交通问题，但这是一个系统性工程，短期内有些心有余而力不足。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ xiǎng jiějué suǒyǒu chéngshì de jiāotōng wèntí, dàn zhè shì yí ge xìtǒngxìng gōngchéng, duǎnqī nèi yǒuxiē xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú.
  • English: The government wants to solve all the cities' traffic problems, but this is a systemic project, and in the short term, they have the will but lack the full capacity.
  • Analysis: A formal, official use of the idiom to manage public expectations about a complex issue.
• Example 9:
  • 看到你搬家这么辛苦，我很想帮忙，但我明天要出差，心有余而力不足，真不好意思。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào nǐ bānjiā zhème xīnkǔ, wǒ hěn xiǎng bāngmáng, dàn wǒ míngtiān yào chūchāi, xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú, zhēn bù hǎoyìsi.
  • English: Seeing you working so hard to move, I'd love to help, but I have a business trip tomorrow. I'm willing but unable, so sorry about that.
  • Analysis: A perfect, polite, and common use in daily life where the constraint is a lack of time.
• Example 10:
  • 虽然我很想学习编程，但是每天工作太忙了，回家后就累得什么也不想干，心有余而力不足。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán wǒ hěn xiǎng xuéxí biānchéng, dànshì měitiān gōngzuò tài máng le, huíjiā hòu jiù lèi de shénme yě bùxiǎng gàn, xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú.
  • English: Although I really want to learn programming, I'm too busy with work every day. After I get home, I'm too tired to do anything; my mind is willing, but I just don't have the energy.
  • Analysis: This describes a common modern struggle where ambition is thwarted by exhaustion from daily life.

• Don't use it for laziness: This idiom implies a *genuine desire* and a *real constraint*. If you just don't feel like doing something, using this phrase will sound insincere or sarcastic. It's about inability, not unwillingness.
  • `*Incorrect:*` 老师让我打扫教室，但我不想做，真是心有余而力不足。 (Lǎoshī ràng wǒ dǎsǎo jiàoshì, dàn wǒ bùxiǎng zuò, zhēnshi xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú.)
  • `*Reason:*` The sentence explicitly states “I don't want to do it” (我不想做), which contradicts the “surplus of will” (心有余) part of the idiom. A simple “I'm too tired” (我太累了) would be better.
• It's not just about physical weakness: A common mistake for English speakers is to limit the meaning of “力 (lì)” to physical “strength” (the “flesh”). Remember that `力` is broad and can mean ability, resources, money, time, authority, etc. The context determines the specific meaning.

• 力不从心 (lì bù cóng xīn): A very close synonym, literally “strength does not follow the heart.” It's four characters instead of seven, making it slightly more concise. The meaning is nearly identical.
• 爱莫能助 (ài mò néng zhù): “To love/sympathize but be unable to help.” This carries a stronger emotional weight and is often used for more serious situations where you feel deep sympathy for someone's plight but are powerless to change it.
• 有心无力 (yǒu xīn wú lì): A more colloquial and shortened version of the main term. It means “to have the heart/intention, but not the strength/ability.” Very common in spoken Chinese.
• 无可奈何 (wú kě nài hé): “To have no way out; to be utterly helpless.” This describes a state of resignation to a situation you cannot change. It lacks the specific element of “wanting to do something” that defines `心有余而力不足`.
• 望尘莫及 (wàng chén mò jí): “To gaze at the dust (of a speeding chariot) and be unable to catch up.” This idiom is used to describe being so far behind someone in skill or achievement that it's impossible to compete. It's about a gap in ability, not a desire to help.
• 面子 (miànzi): “Face;” social standing and reputation. This idiom is a key tool for preserving `面子` for both the person making a request and the person who must decline it.