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近在咫尺 (jìn zài zhǐ chǐ) — (idiom) within easy reach, very close (physically or metaphorically)

Definition

A literary idiom meaning 'right in front of you' — literally the distance of a 'zhǐ' (a small ancient unit, ∼1/3 meter) from your 'chǐ' (foot). Used for both physical nearness and figurative closeness like success or a deadline.

idiom
within easy reachvery close (physically or metaphorically)

Examples

  • 近在咫尺，。
    Wǒ jiā lí gōng sī jìn zài zhǐ chǐ, zǒu lù jiù néng dào.
    My home is very close to the office; I can walk there.
  • 近在咫尺，！
    Shèng lì yǐ jīng jìn zài zhǐ chǐ, dà jiā zài jiā bǎ jìn!
    Victory is within reach; everyone, work a little harder!
  • 近在咫尺，？
    Kǎo shì rì qī jìn zài zhǐ chǐ, nǐ zhǔn bèi hǎo le ma?
    The exam date is very near; are you ready?

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
斤
斤jīn近jìn
Same sound today

近 combines 辶, a walking radical, with 斤, which gives the sound. The walking part fits the idea of moving close to something.

Open 近 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
尺尺chǐruler; measuring stick
Sound part声符shēngfú
只
只zhī咫zhǐ
Same sound today

咫 pairs 尺, a ruler or measuring stick, with 只 as the sound part.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape is thought to picture a hand with the thumb and middle finger spread apart, like a natural ruler for measuring length.

Open 尺 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesSize & Dimension

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