assess one's own strength or capability; act according to one's ability
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesverb
to assess one's own strength or capability; to act according to one's ability
formalOften used in an admonitory or self-reflective context, cautioning against overestimating one's own abilities or undertaking tasks beyond one's capacity. Commonly appears in idioms and classical Chinese phrases.
Fán凡
shì事
yào要
duó度
dé德
liàng量
lì力
，
bù不
kě可
qiǎng强
qiú求
。
In all matters, one must gauge one's virtue and assess one's strength; one cannot force things.
Wǒ我
men们
yīng应
gāi该
liàng量
lì力
ér而
xíng行
，
bù不
yào要
chéng承
nuò诺
tài太
duō多
。
We should act within our capabilities and not promise too much.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
Nǐ你
zhè这
shì是
jī鸡
dàn蛋
pèng碰
shí石
tou头
，
tài太
bù不
liàng量
lì力
le了
。
You're like an egg hitting a rock; you're seriously overestimating your own strength.
Tóu投
zī资
qián前
qǐng请
wù务
bì必
liàng量
lì力
，
píng评
gū估
zì自
jǐ己
de的
fēng风
xiǎn险
chéng承
shòu受
néng能
lì力
。
Before investing, please be sure to act within your means and assess your risk tolerance.
Tā他
xuǎn选
zé择
tuì退
chū出
bǐ比
sài赛
，
shì是
míng明
zhì智
de的
liàng量
lì力
zhī之
jǔ举
。
His decision to withdraw from the competition was a wise act of knowing his own limits.