鞭不及腹 — “To be beyond one's reach or influence”
鞭不及腹 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be beyond one's reach or influence”. To be too far to exert control or power. Literally, “The whip cannot reach the belly”.
鞭不及腹 Pronunciation and Pinyin
鞭不及腹 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 鞭不及腹
Origin and Story of 鞭不及腹
During the Spring and Autumn period, King Zhuang of Chu, relying on his powerful influence, dispatched his minister Shen Zhou to Qi without seeking permission from the state of Song, whose territory Shen Zhou had to pass through. Song, in response, executed Shen Zhou.
Enraged, King Zhuang of Chu launched an attack against Song. Song then appealed to the state of Jin for assistance.
Bo Zong, a high-ranking official of Jin, advised Duke Jing of Jin against sending troops. He argued, "Even a long whip cannot reach the horse's belly" (虽鞭之长，不及马腹), implying that Jin had no compelling reason to risk offending Chu for the sake of Song, as their influence was beyond their immediate reach or direct responsibility in this matter.
Idioms Related to 鞭不及腹
Synonyms of 鞭不及腹
Antonyms of 鞭不及腹
More idioms starting with 鞭
- biān鞭sī丝mào帽yǐng影traveling with horsewhip and hat
- biān鞭dǎ打kuài快niú牛Punish the diligent
- biān鞭pǐ擗xiàng向lǐ里analyze deeply and thoroughly
- biān鞭pǐ擗jìn进lǐ里penetrate deeply into the essence
- biān鞭chī笞tiān天xià下dominate and control the entire world
- biān鞭yuē约jìn近lǐ里make a penetrating and incisive analysis
- biān鞭pì辟rù入lǐ里penetrating and incisive
- biān鞭bì辟xiàng向lǐ里delve deeply into an issue
- biān鞭bì辟zhuó着lǐ里penetrating and incisive analysis
- biān鞭pì辟jìn近lǐ里analyze with great insight and thoroughness
- biān鞭cháng长bù不jí及beyond one's reach
- biān鞭cháng长bù不jí及mǎ马fù腹Beyond one's power or reach
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Open the tool →Questions about 鞭不及腹
What does 鞭不及腹 mean?
鞭不及腹 (biān bù jí fù) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be beyond one's reach or influence”.
How do you pronounce 鞭不及腹?
鞭不及腹 is pronounced biān bù jí fù in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 鞭不及腹 literally mean?
Literally, 鞭不及腹 means “the whip cannot reach the belly”. It is used to mean “to be beyond one's reach or influence”.
Where does 鞭不及腹 come from?
鞭不及腹 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 鞭不及腹?
及：到。原意是鞭子虽长，也不能打马肚子。比喻相隔太远，力量达不到。