Chinese Idiom: 咫尺千里 (Zhi Chi Qian Li)
English Translation: Close enough to touch, yet a thousand miles apart
pīn yīn: zhǐ chǐ qiān lǐ
Idiom Meaning: This idiom expresses the idea that although two places may be physically close, circumstances can make it very difficult to meet, much like being far away.
Historical Source: The idiom originates from a poem by Shi Kefa (史可法) during the Ming Dynasty, specifically from his poem “At the Swallow Cliff” (《燕子矶口占》).
Idiom Story:
Idiom Story:
Shi Kefa, a heroic figure in the late Ming Dynasty, was originally from Xiangfu (now Kaifeng, Henan). He held high positions, serving as the Minister of War and later as a Grand Scholar under the Hongguang Emperor (Zhu Youzong), leading forces in Yangzhou against the invading Qing troops.
In 1645, as the Qing army besieged Yangzhou, Shi Kefa fought bravely but ultimately faced overwhelming odds. After the city fell, he chose to take his own life rather than be captured. During his campaign against the Qing, he crossed the Yangtze River and arrived in Nanjing. Standing at Swallow Cliff, he gazed out over the river, filled with concern for his country and missing his mother deeply, yet he lacked the time to visit her.
In this emotional state, he composed a poignant five-character poem:
来家不面母，咫尺犹千里。
矶头洒清泪，滴滴沉江底。
The translation of the poem conveys:
- “Though I have returned home, I cannot see my mother;
Even at a distance of a few inches, it feels like a thousand miles.” - “At the cliff’s edge, I shed clear tears,
Each drop sinking deep into the river’s bottom.”
The poem expresses his longing for his mother, despite being so close to home. The phrase “咫尺犹千里” captures the profound emotional distance created by circumstances, making a near physical proximity feel impossibly far. Thus, the idiom “咫尺千里” encapsulates this sentiment of emotional separation despite physical closeness.
