beyond one's ability

beyond one's ability

Chinese idiom, Pinyin is Z ì B ù Li à NGL ì, which means that one does not measure one's own ability and overestimates one's own strength. It's from "the strategy of Warring States · Qi CE San".

Idiom usage

Subject predicate; predicate, object; derogatory. example "this is a person who does not measure his own strength." "Frog and ox fight" and "chronicles of the states of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty" chapter 79: "the leader made a speech and said:" my Lord, the king of Yue, did not think much of himself, offended the Kingdom and humiliated me. " Let's just say that our imperial examination is a fluke to be ranked first, not a real talent. How dare we talk about literature without self-confidence. (Chapter 87 of Jing Hua Yuan)

The origin of Idioms

"Jing is very solid, and Xue does not measure his strength." (Qi CE San, Warring States strategy)

Idioms and allusions

The story takes place in the spring and Autumn period. At that time, Zheng and Xi lived in good neighbourliness. One year, the state of Xi fell out with the state of Zheng for a small matter. When the king of Xi wanted to attack Zheng, he called his ministers to discuss. Some said, "your majesty and the king of Zheng have the same surname. Don't use force easily." Some said, "is our prestige higher than Zheng Guo?" Others said, "is our strength stronger than Zheng Guo?" The king of Xiguo did not listen to these persuasions at all. He ordered all the soldiers to attack Zheng. Zheng Guoli sent troops to fight. In the end, Xi guobing was beaten into a mess. "Overstepping one's ability" is to act rashly without measuring one's own strength.