远在天边

遠在天邊

yuǎnzàitiānbiān

phrase #26,831

Meanings

1 far away at the edge of the sky
2 extremely far away
3 right under one's nose (used ironically when the thing sought is actually very close)

Characters

at; in; located at

edge; side; border

Examples

她苦苦寻找的答案远在天边，近在眼前。

Tā kǔkǔ xúnzhǎo de dá'àn yuǎn zài tiānbiān, jìn zài yǎnqián.

The answer she searched for so hard was far away yet right before her eyes.

你要找的人远在天边，近在眼前，就是我！

Nǐ yào zhǎo de rén yuǎn zài tiānbiān, jìn zài yǎnqián, jiùshì wǒ!

The person you're looking for is nowhere to be found yet right here — it's me!

Tips

usage

远在天边 almost always appears paired with 近在眼前 ('close at hand') to create the ironic contrast: the thing one is searching for far and wide is actually right in front of them.

Stroke Order

远 yuǎn

在 zài

天 tiān

边 biān