Chinese word

力所能及

Pronunciation

Pinyinlì suǒ néng jí

Meaning

  • idiomwithin one's ability

Example

我会在力所能及的范围内帮忙。wǒ huì zài lì suǒ néng jí de fàn wéi nèi bāng máng

I will help as much as I can.

Illustration for 力所能及 (within one's ability)

More examples

组织应把资源集中在力所能及的领域里。zǔ zhī yīng bǎ zī yuán jí zhōng zài lì suǒ néng jí de lǐng yù lǐ

An organization should focus its resources on areas within its capabilities.

Core concept

A practical boundary around what current ability and conditions can bring about.

Common phrases

  • 在力所能及的范围内zài lì suǒ néng jí de fàn wéi nèi

    within one's ability

  • 承担力所能及的责任chéng dān lì suǒ néng jí de zé rèn

    take on responsibilities within one's ability

  • 超出力所能及的范畴chāo chū lì suǒ néng jí de fàn chóu

    go beyond the limits of one's ability

Similar words

量力而行liàng lì ér xíng: Choosing actions that match one's ability rather than overextending oneself.
尽己所能jǐn jǐ suǒ néng: Doing as much as one's own ability allows.
尽力而为jìn lì ér wéi: Trying one's hardest to get something done.

Definition in Chinese

表示在现有能力和条件下可做到的事项范围，超出该范围则无能为力。biǎo shì zài xiàn yǒu néng lì hé tiáo jiàn xià kě zuò dào de shì xiàng fàn wéi chāo chū gāi fàn wéi zé wú néng wéi lì

Word origin

力 (lì, "strength") + 所 (suǒ, "that which") + 能 (néng, "can") + 及 (jí, "reach") forms the idea of what a person's strength can reach.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this idiom often softens a promise by setting a clear limit on what can be done instead of making a flat refusal.

Other meanings

  • within one's reachidiom

Opposites

Related words

  • 力所能及地lì suǒ néng jí dìwithin one's abilityadverb

Word lists with this word