不自量力 bù zì liàng lì overestimate one's abilities

Explanation

不自量力,指过高地估计自己的能力,不考虑实际情况,盲目自信。这是一种缺乏自知之明,不切实际的行为。

Overestimating one's abilities, disregarding the actual situation, and being blindly confident. It is an unrealistic behavior lacking self-awareness.

Origin Story

春秋时期,一个小国名叫息国,国力薄弱,却一心想称霸中原。他们不顾自身实力,贸然对强大的楚国宣战。结果,息国军队兵败如山倒,损失惨重,最终被楚国灭亡。这便是历史上著名的“息国之败”,成为了不自量力的典型案例。息国国君的决策,体现了典型的轻敌冒进和不自量力的错误,导致国家灭亡。这个故事警示后人,做任何事情都要量力而行,切不可盲目自大,否则必将自食其果。

chunqiu shiqi, yi ge xiao guo ming jiao xi guo, guoli bao ruo, que yixin xiang chenba zhongyuan. tamen bugu zishen shili, maoran dui qiangda de chu guo xuanzhan. jieguo, xi guo jun dui bing bai ru shan dao, sunshi can zhong, zui zhong bei chu guo mie wang. zhe bian shi lishi shang ming zhi de 'xi guo zhi bai', cheng wei le bu zi liang li de dianxing anli. xi guo guo jun de juece, tixian le dianxing de qingdi mao jin he bu zi liang li de cuowu, dao zhi guojia mie wang. zhege gushi jingshi hou ren, zuo renhe shiqing dou yao liang li er xing, qie ke bu mangmu zida, fouze bi jiang zi shi qi guo

During the Spring and Autumn period, a small country named Xi, with weak national strength, wanted to dominate China. They declared war on the powerful Chu state without considering their own strength. Xi’s army was utterly defeated and suffered heavy losses, eventually being destroyed by Chu. This is the famous “Xi State defeat” in history, a classic example of overestimating one's capabilities. The ruler of Xi made the mistake of underestimating the enemy and being overly aggressive, leading to the demise of the nation. This story warns against blind overconfidence; always assess your strengths and weaknesses before acting.

Usage

用来形容人做事不量力,盲目自信,最终失败。

yong lai xingrong ren zuoshi bu liang li, mangmu zichun, zui zhong shibai

Used to describe someone who does something without considering their own abilities, blindly confident, and ultimately failing.

Examples

  • 他真是不自量力,竟然想一个人完成这个项目。

    ta zhen shi bu zi liang li, jing ran xiang yi ge ren wan cheng zhe ge xiang mu

    He really overestimated himself, trying to complete this project alone.

  • 小公司不自量力地挑战行业巨头,最终失败了。

    xiao gong si bu zi liang li de tiao zhan hang ye ju tou, zui zhong shi bai le

    The small company challenged the industry giant without measuring its strength, ultimately failing.