‘企及’ is a formal literary verb meaning ‘to reach’ or ‘to attain,’ especially something lofty, admirable, or seemingly unattainable—such as excellence, virtue, an ideal, or a high standard. The character 企 (qǐ) originally means ‘to stand on tiptoe’ (suggesting eager striving), while 及 (jí) means ‘to reach’ or ‘to catch up with.’ Together, they evoke the image of stretching upward in earnest effort to touch what lies beyond ordinary reach.

This word carries a tone of reverence and humility: it’s rarely used for everyday physical reaching (e.g., grabbing a book), but rather for abstract, aspirational goals—often in written language, speeches, or reflective writing. It frequently appears in negative constructions (e.g., 难以企及, ‘hard to attain’) to emphasize the gap between current ability and an elevated benchmark. Its formality makes it unsuitable for casual conversation.