自不量力 (zì bú liàng lì) — to overestimate one's own abilities; to bite off more than one can chew
Definition
A four-character idiom: 'to overestimate one's own ability, to bite off more than one can chew.' Often used to warn someone that a task is beyond them.
idiom
to overestimate one's own abilitiesto bite off more than one can chew
Examples
- ，自不量力。Tā jū rán xiǎng yí gè rén bān dòng nà ge dà xiāng zi, zhēn shì zì bú liàng lì.He actually thought he could move that big box alone — he really overestimated himself.
- ，自不量力。Wǒ dāng chū xiǎng sān gè yuè xué huì zhōng wén, xiàn zài kàn lái shì zì bú liàng lì le.I originally thought I could learn Chinese in three months; now it seems I was overestimating myself.
- 自不量力，。Bié zì bú liàng lì le, zhè ge rèn wu xū yào tuán duì hé zuò.Don't overestimate yourself — this task requires teamwork.
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