知其不可而为之 in English zhi1 qi2 bu4 ke3 er2 wei2 zhi1 Meaning

Meanings

  • to keep going resolutely despite knowing the task is impossible (idiomatic expression)

Simplified Characters

Traditional Characters

Pinyin

zhi1 qi2 bu4 ke3 er2 wei2 zhi1

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

zhi1to know qi2his bu4(negative prefix) ke3can er2and wei4as (in the capacity of) zhi1(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5])