# simplicial approximation and infinite complexes

It is well known that if $X$ is a finite simplicial complex then for every continuous map $f:|X|\to |Y|$ there exists a simplicial map $F: X^{(n)}\to Y$ that $|F|$ is homotopic to $f$.

Does anyone know an example of a map $f$ where $X$ is infinite and $f$ cannot be homotopic with geometric realization of any map $F: X^{(n)}\to Y$ and any $n\in \mathbb N$.

Or maybe there are some generalizations of the simplicial approximation theorem or there are known theorems that say when a map $f:X\to Y$ can be approximated by a simplicial map $F:X^{(n)}\to Y$? For example for locally finite complexes?

I assume $X^{(n)}$ means the $n$th barycentric subdivision of $X$. Probably the simplest way of demonstrating how this fails for locally finite complexes is by a homeomorphism of 1-manifolds.
For $n \ge 3$ let $C_n$ be a triangulation of $S^1$ into $n$ vertices and $n$ edges. Clearly $|C_n|$ and $|C_m|$ are homeomorphic and since a homeomorphism between them has a nonzero degree, any map homotopic to such a homeomorphism is surjective. On the other hand, for $n < m$ there can be no simplicial mapping of $C_n$ onto $C_m$, so in that case a homeomorphism is not homotopic to a simplicial map.
If we let $X = \coprod_{n=3}^\infty C_3$ and $Y = \coprod_{n=3}^\infty C_n$, we obviously have a homeomorphism $f: |X| \to |Y|$ and any map homotopic to $f$ must map one component of $|X|$ onto each component of $|Y|$. However, $X^{(k)} = \coprod_{n=3}^\infty C_{3\cdot 2^k}$, so there is no component of $X^{(k)}$ that can be mapped simplicially onto $C_{3\cdot 2^k+1} \subset Y$.