知其不可而為之 zhī qí bù kě ér wéi zhī

DEFINITIONS

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

CHARACTERS

知 zhī know, perceive, comprehend
其 qí his, her, its, their; that
不 bù no, not; un-; negative prefix
可 kě may, can, -able; possibly
而 ér and; and then; and yet; but
為 wéi do, handle, govern, act; be
之 zhī marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; go to