近在咫尺
jìn zài zhǐ chǐ
very close; within reach
Character by character
近jìn
near
near
在zài
at
at
咫zhǐ
span
span
尺chǐ
foot
foot
Example
冠军近在咫尺，他却在最后一局输了。
The title was within his grasp, but he lost the final game.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
咫 was a Zhou-dynasty measure of eight 寸, just short of a 尺, so 咫尺 means a tiny distance. Often in a contrast: 近在咫尺，却… (so close, and yet…). The reverse is 远在天边.
Learn this in Lesson 116 · HSK 7–9: 深中通道通车 (The Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link opens)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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