可望而不可即 kě wàng ér bù kě jí

DEFINITIONS

  1. in sight but unattainable (idiom)
  2. inaccessible
  3. also written 可望而不可及[ke3 wang4 er2 bu4 ke3 ji2]

CHARACTERS

可 kě
HSK 2
may, can, -able; possibly
望 wàng
HSK 2
to look at, look forward; to hope, expect
而 ér
HSK 3
and; and then; and yet; but
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
可 kě
HSK 2
may, can, -able; possibly
即 jí
HSK 4
promptly, quickly, immediately