Chinese Idiom: 可望而不可即 (Ke Wang Er Bu Ke Ji)
English Translation: Visible but unattainable
pīn yīn: kě wàng ér bù kě jí
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation where something is visible or seemingly within reach but cannot be attained or achieved. It can be used to express the frustration of seeing a desirable goal or object that remains out of reach or unattainable at present.
Historical Source: Poem by Liu Bo Wen
Idiom Story:
Liu Ji was a prominent figure in late Yuan and early Ming China, known for his contributions to literature and his role in helping establish the Ming Dynasty. During a period of personal struggle and unfulfilled ambition, Liu Ji composed a poem reflecting his sense of longing and frustration.
In his poem, Liu Ji laments his inability to realize his ambitions despite his visible talent and aspirations. He uses the imagery of “白云在青天，可望不可即” (white clouds in the blue sky, visible but unattainable) to symbolize his dreams and goals that, while within sight, remain frustratingly out of reach.
The poem expresses the poet’s deep sense of yearning and disillusionment, as he could see his dreams clearly but was unable to grasp them. This sentiment of unattainable desire was later distilled into the idiom “可望而不可即” (visible but unattainable), which captures the essence of longing for something that remains beyond one’s grasp.
