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可望而不可即

Mandarin · pinyin kě wàng ér bù kě jí

variant of 可望而不可及 kě wàng ér bù kě jí

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Characters in this entry

可: kě · may, can, -able; possibly
望: wàng · to look at, look forward; to hope, expect
而: ér · and; and then; and yet; but; Kangxi radical 126
不: bù · no, not; un-; negative prefix
即: jí · promptly, quickly, immediately

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

3–4–2–4–3–2 · ke3 wang4 er2 bu4 ke3 ji2

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

ho2 mong6 ji4 bat1 ho2 zik1

Cantonese word readings for 可望而不可即. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) in sight but unattainable; within sight but beyond reach; inaccessible

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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