Word Meaning 駑馬に鞭打つ

どばにむちうつ doba ni muchiutsu

駑馬に鞭打つ is read as どばにむちうつ (doba ni muchiutsu) and means to make someone do what is beyond their ability.

Meaning

English

to make someone do what is beyond their ability
to work hard
to keep one's nose to the grindstone
to whip a jaded horse

Reading

Kana

どばにむちうつ

Romaji

doba ni muchiutsu

Stroke Sequence

6 Characters • 52 Total Strokes

Study Signals and Categories

Kanken 1級 Proverb ✓ Rank 150706 Priority X

Related Vocabulary

Max. 12

駑馬

どば

hack

鞭打つ

むちうつ

to whip

碁打鳥飼い馬鹿の中

ごうちとりかいばかのうち

go players and bird keepers are idiots (both activities demand a lot of time)

鞭打ち症

むちうちしょう

whiplash

騏驎も老いぬれば駑馬に劣る

きりんもおいぬればどばにおとる

even an outstanding person becomes inferior when getting old

打つ

うつ

to beat (rhythmically, e.g. pulse, waves, etc.)

打ち勝つ

うちかつ

to out-hit

銘打つ

めいうつ

to engrave an inscription

波打つ

なみうつ

to dash against (of waves)

合いの手を打つ

あいのてをうつ

to make a gesture or say something during a break in conversation, playing of songs, etc.

手を打つ

てをうつ

to clap one's hands together

先手を打つ

せんてをうつ

to play the first move (e.g. in go)