自不量力

Pronunciation: zì bù liàng lì Literal meaning: Not measuring one's own strength

Origin & Usage

The Zuo Zhuan lists five faults in the small state of Xi, which attacked its stronger neighbour Zheng: it did not weigh its virtue, did not measure (量) its own (自) strength (力), was not kind to its kin, did not examine the wording of the quarrel, and did not establish who was at fault. Xi's army was routed, and the chronicler adds that this was how one knew the state would eventually fall. Failing to measure one's own force is therefore a specific administrative error rather than mere arrogance. Modern Chinese uses the phrase bluntly, often as a contemptuous dismissal — 自不量力 said of a challenger means they have not done the arithmetic.

Examples

English: "He thought he could easily complete the project, but he underestimated the challenges ahead."

Chinese: 他以为自己能轻松完成这个项目，却自不量力。