心有餘而力不足

心有余而力不足
xīnyǒuyúérlìbùzú
  1. the will is there, but not the strength (idiom)
  2. the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

CEDICT

the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak; to be unable to do what one wants very much to do; to have the ambition but lack the ability

Wiktionary

心裡想做，但能力或力量不夠，而無法做到。

重編國語辭典

心裡想做，但能力或力量不夠，而無法做到

維基詞典

Entry Composition

1 心 xīn
  1. heart
  2. mind
  3. intention
  4. center
  5. core

classifiers: 顆, 個
2 有餘 yǒuyú to have an abundance
3 而 ér
  1. and
  2. as well as
  3. and so
  4. but (not)
  5. yet (not)
  6. (indicates causal relation)
  7. (indicates change of state)
  8. (indicates contrast)
4 力 lì
  1. power
  2. force
  3. strength
  4. ability
  5. strenuously
5 不足 bùzú
  1. insufficient
  2. lacking
  3. deficiency
  4. not enough
  5. inadequate
  6. not worth
  7. cannot
  8. should not