bin1 coeng4 mok6 kap6鞭長莫及鞭长莫及
Jyutpingbin1 coeng4 mok6 kap6
Yalebīn chèuhng mohk kahp
Definition
Beyond one's scope or reach to help, deal with, or influence.
neutralother
How it's used
This idiom is a formal expression often used in professional or serious contexts to explain why someone cannot intervene in a situation. It implies a physical or jurisdictional distance that makes assistance impossible, rather than a lack of willingness to help. While it is a four-character idiom, it is frequently integrated into spoken Cantonese sentences with particles like 呀 or 㗎 to soften the tone.
Examples
I want to help you, but it's really beyond my reach.
So much is happening over there, how can we possibly be unable to reach them?
Related words
Common phrases
deeply feel unable to reach or help
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for being busy or lazy. It specifically requires a sense of distance or external constraint that prevents action, not just a personal lack of time or resources.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
