知其不可而為之 zhī qí bù kě ér wéi zhī

press on though doomed to fail

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. to keep going resolutely despite knowing the task is impossible (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
知 zhī HSK 2
to know; to be aware
其 qí HSK 3
its; their; it (refers to sth preceding it)
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
可 kě HSK 2
can; may; able to
而 ér HSK 3
and; but (not); (indicates contrast)
為 wéi
for; because of; to
之 zhī HSK 4
(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的de); it