可望而不可即 kě wàng ér bù kě jí Within sight but out of reach

Explanation

指能够看见、但无法达到或接近。比喻目标虽然近在眼前，却难以实现。

Refers to something that can be seen but cannot be reached or approached. It is a metaphor for a goal that, while seemingly close, is difficult to achieve.

Origin Story

很久以前，在一个偏远的小山村里，住着一位名叫阿兰的年轻女孩。她从小就梦想着能去远方的大城市看看，体验不一样的生活。她无数次地站在村口的小山上，眺望远方连绵起伏的山峦，想象着大城市里繁华的景象。她知道大城市离她很远，需要长途跋涉，但她依然心怀希望，每天都望着远方，梦想着有一天能够实现自己的梦想。随着时间的推移，阿兰长大了，她也逐渐意识到自己与大城市的距离。她没有足够的钱财去远行，也没有足够的勇气去独自闯荡。她开始感到迷茫，自己的梦想似乎遥不可及。但她从未放弃过，她依然会在闲暇时眺望远方，期盼着奇迹的发生。她相信，只要坚持不懈地努力，总有一天，她能够到达自己梦想的地方。

hěn jiǔ yǐ qián, zài yīgè piānyuǎn de xiǎo shān cūn lǐ, zhù zhe yī wèi míng jiào ā lán de nián qīng nǚ hái. tā cóng xiǎo jiù mèng xiǎng zhe néng qù yuǎn fāng de dà chéng shì kàn kàn, tǐ yàn bù yī yàng de shēng huó. tā wú shù cì de zhàn zài cūn kǒu de xiǎo shān shàng, tiào wàng yuǎn fāng lián mián qǐ fú de shān luán, xiǎng xiàng zhe dà chéng shì lǐ fán huá de jǐng xiàng. tā zhī dào dà chéng shì lí tā hěn yuǎn, xū yào cháng tú bá shè, dàn tā yī rán xīn huái xī wàng, měi tiān dōu wàng zhe yuǎn fāng, mèng xiǎng zhe yǒu yī tiān néng gòu shí xiàn zì jǐ de mèng xiǎng. suí zhe shí jiān de tuī yí, ā lán zhǎng dà le, tā yě zhú jiàn yì shí dào zì jǐ yǔ dà chéng shì de jù lí. tā méi yǒu zú gòu de qián cái qù yuǎn xíng, yě méi yǒu zú gòu de yǒng qì qù dú zì chuǎng dàng. tā kāi shǐ gǎn dào mí máng, zì jǐ de mèng xiǎng sì hū yáo bù kě jí. dàn tā cóng wèi fàng qì guò, tā yī rán huì zài xián xiá shí tiào wàng yuǎn fāng, qī pàn zhe qí jī de fā shēng. tā xiāng xìn, zhǐ yào jiān chí bù xiè de nǔ lì, zǒng yǒu yī tiān, tā néng gòu dào dá zì jǐ mèng xiǎng de dì fāng.

Long ago, in a remote mountain village, lived a young girl named Alan. From a young age, she dreamed of visiting the big cities in the distance and experiencing a different life. Countless times, she stood on a small hill at the village entrance, gazing at the rolling mountains in the distance, imagining the bustling scene in the big cities. She knew that the big cities were far away and required a long journey, but she still held hope and looked into the distance every day, dreaming of one day realizing her dream. As time went by, Alan grew up, and she gradually realized the distance between herself and the big cities. She didn't have enough money to travel, nor did she have enough courage to venture out alone. She began to feel lost, her dreams seemingly out of reach. But she never gave up, she would still look into the distance in her spare time, hoping for a miracle to happen. She believed that as long as she persisted in her efforts, one day she would be able to reach the place of her dreams.

Usage

表示目标虽然可见，但难以实现。

biǎo shì mùbiāo suīrán kějiàn, dàn nán yǐ shíxiàn

Indicates a goal that is visible but difficult to achieve.

Examples

• 他渴望得到那份工作，但由于资历尚浅，只能望而却步。

  tā kě wàng de dào nà fèn gōng zuò, dàn yóu yú zī lì shàng qiǎn, zhǐ néng wàng ér què bù

  He yearned for the job, but could only hesitate because of his shallow qualifications.

• 山顶上的风景虽然美丽，但攀登的难度却让人望而却步。

  shān dǐng shàng de fēng jǐng suī rán měi lì, dàn pāndēng de nán dù què ràng rén wàng ér què bù

  Although the scenery on the top of the mountain is beautiful, the difficulty of climbing is daunting

Related Idioms

• 可望而不可及

• 近在咫尺

Opposite Idioms

• 唾手可得

• 易如反掌