求之不得 qiú zhī bù dé To crave something

Explanation

指的是非常想要得到某样东西，却怎么也找不到，形容内心非常渴望。

It means you want something very much, but you can't find it. It describes the deep desire for something.

Origin Story

很久以前在黄河边上有个采荇菜的漂亮姑娘，苗条的身材实在迷人，她引起了一个与她年龄相仿的男子的注意，顿时爱上了她，在梦中都想念她。由于两家不允许往来，就更加思念。有诗为证：“求之不得，寤寐思服，悠哉悠哉，辗转反侧。”

hěn jiǔ yǐ qián zài huáng hé biān shàng yǒu ge cǎi xíng cài de piào liang gū niang, miáo tiáo de shēn cái shí zài mí rén, tā yǐn qǐ le yī ge yǔ tā nián líng xiāng fǎng de nán zǐ de zhù yì, dùn shí ài shàng le tā, zài mèng zhōng dōu xiǎng niàn tā. yīn wèi liǎng jiā bù yǔn xǔ wǎng lái, jiù gèng jiā sī niàn. yǒu shī wèi zhèng: “qiú zhī bù dé, wù mèi sī fú, yōu zāi yōu zāi, zhǎn zhuǎn fǎn cè.”

A long time ago, there was a beautiful girl who picked water lilies on the Yellow River. Her slender figure was truly charming. She caught the attention of a man about her age, who instantly fell in love with her. He even dreamt of her. Because their families were not allowed to interact, he missed her even more. There is a poem about it: „求之不得，寤寐思服，悠哉悠哉，辗转反侧.“

Usage

这个成语多用于形容对某事物的渴望，或者对某个目标的追求。

zhè ge chéng yǔ duō yòng yú xíng róng duì mǒu shì wù de kě wàng, huò zhě duì mǒu ge mù biāo de zhuī qiú.

This idiom is often used to describe the yearning for something or the pursuit of a certain goal.

Examples

• 这可是我梦寐以求的宝贝，你愿意送给我吗？

  zhè kě shì wǒ mèng mèi qiú de bǎo bèi, nǐ yuàn yì sòng gěi wǒ ma?

  This is the treasure I have always dreamed of, would you be willing to give it to me?

• 我一直想要去看看大海，现在终于～了。

  wǒ yī zhí xiǎng yào qù kàn kàn dà hǎi, xiàn zài zhōng yú qiú zhī bù dé le

  I have always wanted to see the ocean, and now I finally have the opportunity to do so!

Related Idioms

• 梦寐以求

• 可望而不可即

Opposite Idioms

• 唾手可得

• 易如反掌