Chinese idioms

马尘不及

(Mǎ chén bù jí)

Unable to keep up with somebody/something

A: You’re getting fatter. Lose some weight or you will honestly never be able to find a wife.

你又发福了。再不减肥就真娶不了媳妇了。

(nǐ yòu fāfú le. zài bù jiǎnféi jiù zhēn qǔbù liǎo xífu le.)

B: It’s not like I had a choice. Last night I was forced to drink a lot of foreign wine.

唉,天天应酬我也没办法啊。昨儿晚上又被灌了好多洋酒。

(ài, tiāntiān yīnɡchóu wǒ yě méi bànfǎ a. zuór wǎnshànɡ yòu bèi ɡuànle hǎoduō yánɡjiǔ.)

A: Look at you. I can hardly keep up with your luxurious life.

你瞅瞅你。你这生活真是让我马尘不及。

(nǐ chǒuchǒu nǐ. nǐ zhè shēnɡhuó zhēnshì rànɡ wǒ mǎ chén bù jí.)