魂牵梦萦
魂牵梦萦 (hún qiān mèng yíng) literally means “soul pulled, dreams haunted” and expresses “yearn day and night”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: hun qian meng ying, hun qian meng ying,魂牵梦萦 meaning, 魂牵梦萦 in english
Yearn day and night
Pronunciation: hún qiān mèng yíng Literal meaning: Soul pulled, dreams haunted
Origin & Usage
The soul (魂) pulled along (牵) and dreams (梦) wound about (萦). 牵 is leading an animal on a rope and 萦 is thread winding round something, so both halves make the longing an external force acting on somebody who is not choosing it. That the second half happens in sleep is the claim: the preoccupation carries on where the will cannot reach. Homesickness and love, in a literary phrase written far more often than spoken.
Examples
English: "Her homeland remained constantly in her thoughts."
Chinese: 她魂牵梦萦地想念着故乡。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
海枯石烂
hǎi kū shí làn
Until the end of time; eternal love
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牵羊担酒
qiān yáng dān jiǔ
Bring gifts to celebrate or give thanks
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依依不舍
yī yī bù shě
Reluctant to part; lingering attachment
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心心相印
xīn xīn xiāng yìn
Perfect mutual understanding; hearts in harmony
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举案齐眉
jǔ àn qí méi
Married couple with great mutual respect
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一见钟情
yī jiàn zhōng qíng
Love at first sight
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难分难舍
nán fēn nán shě
Be inseparable; hate to part
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恋恋不舍
liàn liàn bù shě
Be deeply reluctant to leave
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 魂牵梦萦 mean in English?
魂牵梦萦 (hún qiān mèng yíng) literally translates to “Soul pulled, dreams haunted” and is used to express “Yearn day and night”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 魂牵梦萦 used?
Situation: Her homeland remained constantly in her thoughts.
What is the pinyin for 魂牵梦萦?
The pinyin pronunciation for 魂牵梦萦 is “hún qiān mèng yíng”.
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