lý bất cập thế

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

Reason loses to power — right argued from weakness is overruled; the orphan swallows the logic too.

Literally: principle doesn't reach position

Examples

Thấp cổ bé miệng thì lý bất cập thế.Small voice, low neck — reason loses to rank.

Editorial example (VI sweep batch 040, illustrative)

Sources & notes

Discovered via Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (Huỳnh Tịnh Của, 1897; public domain, via vi.wikisource); retrieved 2026-08-01. Source: source ↗ Attested in Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (Huỳnh Tịnh Của, 1897). Definition is an original editorial synthesis, not copied from the source.

Common questions

What does “lý bất cập thế” mean?

Reason loses to power — right argued from weakness is overruled; the orphan swallows the logic too. Literally: principle doesn't reach position

Is “lý bất cập thế” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.