不可逾越 (bù kě yú yuè) — impassable; insurmountable; cannot be crossed or overcome

Definition

A formal written phrase meaning 'insurmountable / cannot be crossed' — used for obstacles, barriers, or difficulties, not for physical paths.

verb
impassableinsurmountablecannot be crossed or overcome

Examples

  • 不可逾越。
    Zhè dào gāo qiáng shì bù kě yú yuè de zhàng ài.
    This high wall is an insurmountable obstacle.
  • ,不可逾越。
    Fǎ lǜ miàn qián, rèn hé tè quán dōu bù kě yú yuè.
    Before the law, no privilege is insurmountable.
  • 不可逾越。
    Tā men miàn lín de kùn nan sì hū bù kě yú yuè.
    The difficulties they face seem insurmountable.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

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chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
俞
俞yú逾yú
Same sound today

逾 is built from 辶 (written in full as 辵) and 俞. The 辶 part is tied to the meaning, while 俞 gives the sound.

Open 逾 →

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
走走zǒuto walk or run
Sound part声符shēngfú
戉
戉yuè越yuè
Same sound today

越 is built from 走 (to walk or run) and 戉 (which supplies the sound); the 走 part shows the idea of going over or crossing.

Open 越 →

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