不利涉大川

• 不利 (bù lì): Unfavorable, inadvisable, or unlucky. In this formulaic context, it typically refers to a misalignment of timing rather than a moral prohibition.
• 涉 (shè): To ford or wade across; implies direct physical engagement with the water and exposure to risk.
• 大川 (dà chuān): Literally "great river" or "vast stream"; represents high-stakes ventures, significant life transitions, or formidable boundaries.

The phrase operates as a conditional warning or judgment on risk. Depending on the surrounding syntax, it may be rendered as:

• Evaluative: "It is unfavorable to cross the great river." (Focuses on the quality of the action).
• Prohibitive/Advisory: "Do not cross the great river [as it is] unfavorable." (Focuses on the resulting caution).

In a divinatory context (such as the Yi Jing), this is a formulaic verdict serving as a status report on the viability of major action. It signals a period where stability and preservation are preferable to movement. The "crossing" represents a point of no return, marking the moment of maximum vulnerability.

• Literal vs. Metaphorical: Maintain the tension between the concrete imagery of fording water and the abstract notion of risk. Avoid stripping the elemental imagery if the text maintains an elemental tone, but avoid over-concretizing "the river" in purely spiritual or political contexts.
• Avoid Moralization: The term indicates that an action is ill-timed or unfortunate given the circumstances, not that it is morally "wrong."