yǒuxīnwúlì: 有心无力 - Willing but unable, The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

• Keywords: youxinwuli, yǒuxīnwúlì, 有心无力, willing but unable, spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, want to help but can't, Chinese idiom for powerlessness, good intentions no ability, Chinese chengyu.
• Summary: A common and relatable Chinese idiom (chengyu), yǒuxīnwúlì (有心无力) perfectly describes the frustrating feeling of wanting to do something but lacking the ability, resources, or power to follow through. It translates to being “willing but unable” and is similar to the English phrase “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” This term is essential for expressing empathy, regret, or personal limitations in a culturally appropriate way.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yǒuxīnwúlì
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Idiom); can function as an adjective or predicate.
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To have the desire to do something but not the power or ability.
• In a Nutshell: `有心无力` is the feeling you get when your heart is in the right place, but reality gets in the way. Imagine you see a friend struggling to move into a new apartment. You genuinely want to help them lift their heavy sofa (the “有心” - having the heart), but you have a bad back and physically cannot do it (the “无力” - having no strength). This feeling of good intention clashing with practical limitation is the core of `有心无力`. It's a mix of desire, good will, and the frustrating acceptance of one's own limits.

• 有 (yǒu): To have; to possess; there is.
• 心 (xīn): Heart; mind; intention; feeling.
• 无 (wú): To not have; without; -less. A classical negation word.
• 力 (lì): Strength; power; ability; capacity.

These characters combine quite literally to mean: “to have the heart/intention, but to be without the strength/power.” The structure perfectly captures the internal conflict between desire and capability.

`有心无力` is more than just a phrase; it's a culturally significant way of expressing a difficult situation without losing face or appearing apathetic. In many Western cultures, admitting you can't do something might be seen as a simple statement of fact or, in some contexts, a personal failing. The Chinese expression `有心无力` subtly shifts the focus. By starting with `有心` (“I have the heart”), you first establish your good intentions and moral standing. This is crucial in a culture that values relationships (`关系 guānxi`) and mutual obligation (`人情 rénqíng`). You are signaling, “My feelings for you are correct, and I want to fulfill my role as a friend/family member/colleague.” The second part, `无力` (“I have no power”), then explains the situation as a matter of objective circumstance rather than a lack of will. This makes it a very effective and polite way to decline a request or express regret. Comparison to “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”: While similar, the English phrase often implies a personal, physical weakness (e.g., being too tired, too tempted by cake). `有心无力` is much broader. The `力` (power) can refer to:

• Physical strength: An elderly person wanting to travel.
• Financial resources: Wanting to donate to a cause but having no money.
• Authority or influence: A low-level employee who wants to change a bad company policy but can't.
• Knowledge or skill: A parent wanting to help their child with advanced math homework.

Therefore, `有心无力` is less about personal “weakness” and more about a pragmatic assessment of one's capabilities in a given situation.

This idiom is extremely common in everyday conversation.

• Politely Declining Help: This is a classic use case. If a friend asks to borrow a large sum of money and you don't have it, saying “我真是有心无力” (Wǒ zhēnshi yǒuxīnwúlì) expresses sincere regret and empathy, softening the refusal.
• Expressing Personal Frustration: You can use it to talk about your own goals. For example, “我想每天都去健身，但是工作太忙了，真的是有心无力。” (I want to go to the gym every day, but work is too busy, I'm truly willing but unable.)
• Social Commentary: On social media or in news discussions, people might use it to describe systemic problems. For example, “The government wants to solve the housing crisis, but with such a complex market, they seem 有心无力.”
• Connotation: The tone is almost always one of sympathy and regret. It is not an excuse for laziness. Using it when you are perfectly capable but just don't want to do something will come across as insincere.

• Example 1:
  • 很多年轻人想在大城市买房，但面对高昂的房价，他们感到有心无力。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō niánqīng rén xiǎng zài dà chéngshì mǎifáng, dàn miàn duì gāo'áng de fángjià, tāmen gǎndào yǒuxīnwúlì.
  • English: Many young people want to buy a house in a big city, but facing the high housing prices, they feel willing but unable.
  • Analysis: This shows a major societal issue where the desire (buy a house) is blocked by an external factor (high prices).
• Example 2:
  • 爷爷很想跟我们一起去爬山，可惜他年纪大了，身体有心无力。
  • Pinyin: Yéyé hěn xiǎng gēn wǒmen yīqǐ qù páshān, kěxí tā niánjì dàle, shēntǐ yǒuxīnwúlì.
  • English: Grandpa really wants to go hiking with us, but it's a pity he's old and his body is willing but unable.
  • Analysis: A classic example of physical limitations. The “heart” wants to, but the “strength” (health) isn't there.
• Example 3:
  • 朋友，我知道你很难过，我很想帮你，但在这件事上我真的是有心无力。
  • Pinyin: Péngyǒu, wǒ zhīdào nǐ hěn nánguò, wǒ hěn xiǎng bāng nǐ, dàn zài zhè jiàn shì shàng wǒ zhēn de shì yǒuxīnwúlì.
  • English: My friend, I know you're upset, and I really want to help you, but on this matter, I am truly willing but unable.
  • Analysis: A very common and empathetic way to tell someone you can't help, emphasizing that the reason is inability, not a lack of care.
• Example 4:
  • 作为一名基层员工，他想改变公司不合理的规定，却有心无力。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī míng jīcéng yuángōng, tā xiǎng gǎibiàn gōngsī bù hélǐ de guīdìng, què yǒuxīnwúlì.
  • English: As a junior employee, he wanted to change the company's unreasonable rules but was powerless to do so.
  • Analysis: This example highlights a lack of authority or influence as the barrier.
• Example 5:
  • 老师看到学生们的成绩一直提不高，感觉有些有心无力。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī kàn dào xuéshēngmen de chéngjī yīzhí tí bù gāo, gǎnjué yǒuxiē yǒuxīnwúlì.
  • English: The teacher felt a bit helpless seeing that the students' grades weren't improving.
  • Analysis: Here, the “lack of power” refers to the inability to find an effective method to achieve the desired outcome.
• Example 6:
  • 我想把中文学好，可是汉字太难记了，学起来有心无力。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng bǎ Zhōngwén xuéhǎo, kěshì Hànzì tài nán jìle, xué qǐlái yǒuxīnwúlì.
  • English: I want to learn Chinese well, but the characters are too hard to remember, I feel willing but unable when I study.
  • Analysis: A feeling many language learners can relate to, where the desire to learn is strong, but the difficulty of the task feels overwhelming.
• Example 7:
  • 面对突如其来的自然灾害，即使是救援队有时也会感到有心无力。
  • Pinyin: Miàn duì tūrúqílái de zìrán zāihài, jíshǐ shì jiùyuán duì yǒushí yě huì gǎndào yǒuxīnwúlì.
  • English: Facing a sudden natural disaster, even the rescue teams can sometimes feel powerless.
  • Analysis: This shows that even capable people can be `有心无力` when faced with overwhelmingly large problems.
• Example 8:
  • 老板很想给大家发奖金，但是公司今年没赚钱，他也是有心无力啊。
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn hěn xiǎng gěi dàjiā fā jiǎngjīn, dànshì gōngsī jīnnián méi zhuànqián, tā yěshì yǒuxīnwúlì a.
  • English: The boss really wants to give everyone a bonus, but the company didn't make a profit this year, so he's unable to, even though he wants to.
  • Analysis: The particle `啊 (a)` at the end adds a sighing, regretful tone, which perfectly complements the feeling of `有心无力`.
• Example 9:
  • 他有心无力地看着那份他完全看不懂的合同。
  • Pinyin: Tā yǒuxīnwúlì de kànzhe nà fèn tā wánquán kàn bù dǒng de hétóng.
  • English: He looked helplessly at the contract that he couldn't understand at all.
  • Analysis: Here, `有心无力` is used as an adverb (with `地 de`) to describe the manner of an action, showing his feeling of powerlessness as he looked.
• Example 10:
  • 尽管政府推行了很多环保政策，但在巨大的经济压力下，治理污染仍然有心无力。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn zhèngfǔ tuīxíngle hěnduō huánbǎo zhèngcè, dàn zài jùdà de jīngjì yālì xià, zhìlǐ wūrǎn réngrán yǒuxīnwúlì.
  • English: Although the government has implemented many environmental policies, under huge economic pressure, controlling pollution remains a task they are willing but unable to accomplish.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of the term in a formal, analytical context to describe complex socio-economic trade-offs.

• Don't use it as a lazy excuse. The core of `有心无力` is a *genuine* desire and an *actual* inability. If a friend asks for help with a simple task you are perfectly capable of doing, saying `我有心无力` would be inappropriate and insincere. It implies a much bigger obstacle than just not feeling like it. In that case, a simple “I'm busy” (`我现在很忙`) is better.
• Incorrect: Your roommate asks you to wash one dish. You say: “对不起，我有心无力。” (Duìbùqǐ, wǒ yǒuxīnwúlì.) - This is dramatic and incorrect. It implies you have a medical condition preventing you from washing a single dish.
• False Friend Alert: It is not the same as “I can't be bothered” or “I don't care.” Those phrases imply apathy. `有心无力` implies the opposite: you do care, which is what makes the inability to act so frustrating.

• 力不从心 (lì bù cóng xīn): A very close synonym. It literally means “strength does not follow the heart,” conveying the exact same idea. It's interchangeable with `有心无力` in most contexts.
• 心有余而力不足 (xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú): The full, formal version of `有心无力`. It means “the heart has a surplus (of desire), but the strength is insufficient.” It's more literary and often used in writing.
• 爱莫能助 (ài mò néng zhù): “To love/care for someone but be unable to help.” This is very specific to situations where you are declining to help someone you feel sympathy for. It's a perfect phrase to use in response to a request.
• 无可奈何 (wú kě nài hé): “To have no way out; to be utterly helpless.” This describes the feeling of resignation that often results from a `有心无力` situation. It focuses on the final state of helplessness.
• 无能为力 (wú néng wéi lì): “Powerless to do anything.” This is a stronger, more direct term that focuses only on the lack of ability. It lacks the nuance of `有心` (having the heart/intention) that makes `有心无力` so empathetic.
• 望洋兴叹 (wàng yáng xīng tàn): A chengyu meaning “to gaze at the ocean and sigh.” It's a metaphor for realizing the vastness of a task and feeling powerless to accomplish it.