Chinese idiom · 成语
望尘莫及
Meaning
Gazing at dust, cannot catch; far outpaced.
Character by character
Origin and story
Literary imageThe image is of someone moving so far ahead that a follower cannot even reach the dust left behind. A related passage in the Zhuangzi's 'Tian Zifang' has Yan Hui tell Confucius that he can follow ordinary walking or running, but cannot match his teacher when he seems to leave the dust behind. The conversation concerns an influence deeper than outward imitation.
Another related wording, 望尘不及, appears in the History of the Later Han's account of Zhao Zi, in an unsuccessful attempt to catch up with him. These are antecedents of the familiar expression, now used for an ability or achievement far beyond one's reach.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
她能同时听懂三种方言，这本事让我望尘莫及。
She can understand three dialects; that ability is far beyond me.
Often a modest admission that someone else's ability greatly exceeds one's own.