ど
駑
ば
馬
　
に
むち
鞭
う
打
　
つ

expression, Godan verb

  1. to work hard, to keep one's nose to the grindstone, to whip a jaded horse. Humble language.
  2. to make someone do what is beyond their ability. Orig. meaning.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
ど
駑
ば
馬
　
に
むち
鞭
う
打
　
つ
 駑馬に鞭打つ どばにむちうつ

Contained Kanji Breakdown

slow horse, foolish fellow
ド　にぶ.い (Kentei 1)
guy, slave, manservant
やつ　ド　やっこ (Early Jr. High, N1)
woman, female
ジョ　おんな　め (1st, N5)
or again, furthermore, on the other hand
また　ユウ　やす (Late Jr. High, N1)
horse
ま　バ　うま (2nd, N3)
fire, fire radical (no. 86)
ヒョウ　カ
horse
ま　バ　うま (2nd, N3)
fire, fire radical (no. 86)
ヒョウ　カ
whip, rod, counter for whippings
むち　ベン　むちうつ (Kentei Pre-1)
leather, skin, reform
カク　かわ (6th, N2)
twenty
にじゅう　ジュウ　ニュウ (Kentei Pre-1)
mouth
くち　コウ　ク (1st, N4)
ten
ジュウ　ジッ　ジュッ (1st, N5)
convenience, facility, excrement
ビン　ベン　たよ.り (4th, N3)
human radical (no. 9)
grow late, night watch, sit up late
さら　コウ　ふ.ける (Early Jr. High, N3)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
day, sun, Japan
ひ　にっ　ニチ (1st, N5)
mow, cut grass, subdue
ガイ　ゲ　おさ.める (Kentei 1)
strike, hit, knock
う.つ　ダ　うち (3rd, N3)
hand, hand radical (no. 64)
シュ
street, ward, town
チョウ　テイ　チン (3rd, N1)