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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.

onejiànseezhōngstrikeqíngfeeling

Love at first sight.

báiwhitetóuheadxiétogetherlǎoold

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

xīnheartxīnheartxiāngmutuallyyìnimprint

Hearts imprinted on each other — in perfect mutual understanding.

qíngfeelingtóumatchintentionagree

Feelings match, minds agree — a perfect rapport.

xiāngmutuallyjìngrespectlikebīnguest

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

raiseàntraylevel withméieyebrow

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

side-by-sidewingshuāngpairfēifly

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

liǎngtwoxiǎoyoungnocāisuspicion

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

àilovenotshìreleaseshǒuhand

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

bēisorrowhuānjoyseparationreunion

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

cùninchstepnotleave

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

liànyearnliànyearnnotshěwilling to part

Reluctant to leave; unwilling to part.

mèngdreammèisleepwithqiúseek

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

qíngfeelingnotselfjīnrestrain

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

qīnggreenméiplumzhúbamboohorse

Childhood sweethearts; a couple who grew up together.

quánwholexīnheartquánwholeintention

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

hotlèitearsyíngfillkuàngeye socket

eyes brimming with tears; moved to tears

likechīinfatuatedlikezuìdrunk

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

shēndeepqíngfeelinghòuthickfriendship

deep affection and profound friendship

tiānheavenchánglongearthjiǔlasting

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

withoutwēismallnotzhìreach

in every possible way; meticulous

xīnheartgānsweetqíngfeelingyuànwilling

Be perfectly happy to; be completely willing.

onexīnheartonemind

Wholeheartedly; with single-hearted devotion.

reluctantreluctantnotshěwilling to part

Unwilling to part; full of reluctance.

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