biān​cháng​mò​jí

beyond one's reach

Senses

鞭长莫及/ 鞭長莫及 biān​cháng​mò​jí beyond one's reach

literally meaning "even a long whip cannot reach the horse's belly"; used as an idiom to describe a situation where one's power, influence, or authority is too far away to have an effect or provide help

References

variant 鞭长莫及/鞭長莫及 鞭长不及/鞭長不及
synonym 鞭不及腹/鞭不及腹 鞭长莫及/鞭長莫及