very short distance; arm's length; stone's throw
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
a very short distance; arm's length; stone's throw; hair's breadth
literaryA literary term used to describe physical or metaphorical proximity. Commonly appears in the set phrases 近在咫尺 (within arm's reach) and 咫尺天涯 (so close yet so far).
Zhè这
jiā家
shū书
diàn店
zhǐ近
chǐ在
zài咫
jìn尺
，
bù步
xíng行
zhǐ只
yào要
liǎng两
fēn分
zhōng钟
。
This bookstore is just a stone's throw away, only a two-minute walk.
Tā他
men们
zhī之
jiān间
zhǐ近
chǐ在
zài咫
jìn尺
，
què却
gǎn感
jué觉
yuǎn远
zài在
tiān天
yá涯
。
They are within arm's reach of each other, yet it feels like they are worlds apart.
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Chéng成
gōng功
kàn看
sì似
zhǐ近
chǐ在
zài咫
jìn尺
，
què却
yòu又
yáo遥
bù不
kě可
jí及
。
Success seems within a hair's breadth, yet remains tantalizingly out of reach.