wàng望gazeyáng洋oceanxīng兴raisetàn叹sigh
To feel powerless in the face of an overwhelming task; to sigh in despair at one's own inadequacy.
Literal meaning
gaze (望) — ocean (洋) — raise (兴) — sigh (叹)
Origin
Attributed to Zhuangzi. A classical four-character phrase.
Examples
miàn面duì对zhè这ge个nán难tí题，tā他zhǐ只néng能wàng望yáng洋xīng兴tàn叹。
Faced with this difficult problem, he could only sigh in despair.
kàn看dào到bié别rén人qǔ取dé得de的chéng成jiù就，tā他bù不jīn禁wàng望yáng洋xīng兴tàn叹。
Seeing the achievements of others, he couldn't help but sigh at his own inadequacy.
Usage & nuances
Expresses a feeling of helplessness and frustration.
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