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IDIOMS · LOVE

Chinese Idioms about Love & Relationships

Chengyu about love, devotion, and rapport — 一见钟情, 白头偕老, 心心相印 — the classical idioms that turn up in wedding cards, song lyrics, and romantic fiction.

yí一onejiàn见seezhōng钟strikeqíng情feeling

Love at first sight.

bái白whitetóu头headxié偕togetherlǎo老old

Grow old together — until your heads are both white with age.

xīn心heartxīn心heartxiāng相mutuallyyìn印imprint

Hearts imprinted on each other — in perfect mutual understanding.

qíng情feelingtóu投matchyì意intentionhé合agree

Feelings match, minds agree — a perfect rapport.

xiāng相mutuallyjìng敬respectrú如likebīn宾guest

Treat each other like honoured guests — mutual respect in marriage.

jǔ举raiseàn案trayqí齐level withméi眉eyebrow

Raising the food tray to eyebrow level — exemplary marital respect.

bǐ比side-by-sideyì翼wingshuāng双pairfēi飞fly

Wing to wing in pair-flight — a devoted couple inseparable in life.

liǎng两twoxiǎo小youngwú无nocāi猜suspicion

Two children with no guardedness between them — innocent childhood companions.

ài爱lovebù不notshì释releaseshǒu手hand

To love something so much that one is unwilling to let it go; to be very fond of.

bēi悲sorrowhuān欢joylí离separationhé合reunion

Joys and sorrows, partings and reunions; the vicissitudes of life.

cùn寸inchbù步stepbù不notlí离leave

Not to leave for even an inch; to stay very close.

liàn恋yearnliàn恋yearnbù不notshě舍willing to part

Reluctant to leave; unwilling to part.

mèng梦dreammèi寐sleepyǐ以withqiú求seek

To long for something day and night; to yearn for something even in one's dreams.

qíng情feelingbù不notzì自selfjīn禁restrain

Unable to restrain one's emotions; to be overcome with emotion; to be unable to control oneself.

qīng青greenméi梅plumzhú竹bamboomǎ马horse

Childhood sweethearts; a couple who grew up together.

quán全wholexīn心heartquán全wholeyì意intention

With all one's heart and soul; wholeheartedly; devotedly.

rè热hotlèi泪tearsyíng盈fillkuàng眶eye socket

eyes brimming with tears; moved to tears

rú如likechī痴infatuatedrú如likezuì醉drunk

As if drunk and stupefied; lost in rapture; completely absorbed.

shēn深deepqíng情feelinghòu厚thickyì谊friendship

deep affection and profound friendship

tiān天heavencháng长longdì地earthjiǔ久lasting

As eternal and unchanging as the universe; everlasting; forever.

wú无withoutwēi微smallbù不notzhì至reach

in every possible way; meticulous

xīn心heartgān甘sweetqíng情feelingyuàn愿willing

Be perfectly happy to; be completely willing.

yī一onexīn心heartyī一oneyì意mind

Wholeheartedly; with single-hearted devotion.

yī依reluctantyī依reluctantbù不notshě舍willing to part

Unwilling to part; full of reluctance.

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