咫尺天涯 inches apart, worlds away
Explanation
形容距离虽然很近，却难以接近，如同远在天涯一样。
Describes a situation where two people, although geographically very close, still feel very far apart, as if they were at the other end of the world.
Origin Story
唐代诗人李白和杜甫，一位浪漫不羁，一位沉郁顿挫，两人都对盛唐的繁华景象有着深刻的感受。他们虽然生活在同一时代，但因各种原因，两人见面的机会并不多。一次，李白应邀到长安参加盛大的宫廷宴会。席间，李白写下了一首气势磅礴的诗篇，赞美大唐王朝的辉煌。杜甫闻讯后，内心激动不已，特意前往长安想与李白一叙。然而，当杜甫到达长安时，李白早已乘船东下，飘然而去。杜甫望着滚滚长江，心中充满了惆怅。他知道，他和李白之间，虽然看似近在咫尺，却如同咫尺天涯，难以相见。从此，两人虽然诗歌传唱，但难得一见。这便是“咫尺天涯”的真实写照。
Li Bai and Du Fu, two great poets of the Tang Dynasty, although living in the same era, had few chances to meet due to various reasons. Li Bai, known for his romantic and unrestrained style, was invited to a grand court banquet in Chang'an. There, he wrote a magnificent poem praising the splendor of the Tang Dynasty. Upon hearing this, Du Fu, whose poetry was characterized by its somber depth, was deeply moved and journeyed to Chang'an to meet Li Bai. However, when Du Fu arrived, Li Bai had already left by boat. Gazing at the vast Yangtze River, Du Fu felt a profound sense of longing. He realized that though geographically close, they were separated by an immeasurable distance, a perfect example of "zhǐ chǐ tiān yá"—inches apart, yet worlds away.
Usage
用于形容距离很近，却很难相见，如同远在天涯一样。
Used to describe that although the distance is very close, it is difficult to meet, as if far away.
Examples
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虽然他们住在隔壁，却像咫尺天涯，很少见面。
suīrán tāmen zhù zài gé bì, què xiàng zhǐ chǐ tiān yá, hǎo shǎo jiàn miàn
Although they live next door, they rarely see each other, as if worlds apart.
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距离如此之近，却如同咫尺天涯，令人唏嘘不已。
jùlí rúcǐ zhī jìn, què rútóng zhǐ chǐ tiān yá, lìng rén xī xū bù yǐ
The distance is so close, but it feels like an insurmountable distance, which is thought-provoking.