知其不可而為

知其不可而为
zhīqíbùkěérwéi

to (stubbornly) do something even though you know it is impossible; to understand the difficulty of a feat but to attempt it anyway because it is the right thing to do (e.g. strive to eliminate world hunger)

Wiktionary

Entry Composition

=1 知 zhī
  1. to know
  2. to be aware
=1 知 zhì
  1. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) Original form of 智 (zhì, “knowing, wisdom, intelligence”).
  2. Original form of 智 (zhì, “knowing, wisdom, intelligence”).
=2 其 qí
  1. his
  2. her
  3. its
  4. their
  5. that
  6. such
  7. it (refers to sth preceding it)
=2 其 jī
  1. (obsolete) Used at the end of a sentence to show doubt.
  2. (obsolete) Used in personal names.
  3. Used at the end of a sentence to show doubt.
  4. Used in personal names.
=2 其 jì
  1. (archaic) only used in 彼其
  2. only used in 彼其
3 不可 bùkě cannot; should not; must not
4 而 ér
  1. and
  2. as well as
  3. and so
  4. but (not)
  5. yet (not)
  6. (indicates causal relation)
  7. (indicates change of state)
  8. (indicates contrast)
=5 為 wéi
  1. as (in the capacity of)
  2. to take sth as
  3. to act as
  4. to serve as
  5. to behave as
  6. to become
  7. to be
  8. to do
  9. by (in the passive voice)
=5 為 wèi
  1. because of
  2. for
  3. to

Containing this entry

知其不可而為之 zhīqíbùkěérwéizhī to keep going resolutely despite knowing the task is impossible (idiom)
知其不可而為之 zhīqíbùkě'érwéizhī