# 咫尺天涯

zhǐ chǐ tiān yá

Be physically close yet feel impossibly far apart

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** A tiny distance becomes the end of the world

**Register:** Formal · literary

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe separation despite proximity.

Usually emotional or circumstantial distance.

## Understanding the expression

The expression places a very small physical distance beside an unimaginably great one. It describes people who are near in space but separated by circumstance, emotion, or an obstacle they cannot overcome. A closed border or a broken relationship can create that feeling. It is literary and often poignant. The contrast works because closeness creates an expectation of connection, while the actual situation makes even a short distance feel unreachable.

## Examples

隔着一道封锁线，他们咫尺天涯。

### Traditional Chinese

隔著一道封鎖線，他們咫尺天涯。

gé zhe yí dào fēng suǒ xiàn ， tā men zhǐ chǐ tiān yá 。

A single cordon separated them, making a short distance feel immense.

住在同一屋檐下，夫妻却咫尺天涯。

### Traditional Chinese

住在同一屋簷下，夫妻卻咫尺天涯。

zhù zài tóng yì wū yán xià ， fū qī què zhǐ chǐ tiān yá 。

Living under the same roof, the couple nevertheless felt worlds apart.

她看见病房里的母亲，却不能进去，咫尺天涯。

### Traditional Chinese

她看見病房裡的母親，卻不能進去，咫尺天涯。

tā kàn jiàn bìng fáng lǐ de mǔ qīn ， què bù néng jìn qù ， zhǐ chǐ tiān yá 。

She could see her mother in the ward but could not enter, so close yet so far.

两人虽坐在一起，心里却咫尺天涯。

### Traditional Chinese

兩人雖坐在一起，心裡卻咫尺天涯。

liǎng rén suī zuò zài yì qǐ ， xīn lǐ què zhǐ chǐ tiān yá 。

Although seated together, they felt emotionally worlds apart.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%92%AB%E5%B0%BA%E5%A4%A9%E6%B6%AF)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1050&webMd=1&la=0)

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