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. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
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
This idiom describes the soul (魂) being pulled (牵) and dreams (梦) being haunted (萦). It depicts longing so intense it occupies both waking and sleeping thoughts. The phrase captures obsessive yearning. Modern usage describes missing someone or something so deeply that thoughts of them pervade consciousness - the homesick, the lovesick, anyone consumed by longing.
Examples
English: "Her homeland remained constantly in her thoughts."
Chinese: 她魂牵梦萦地想念着故乡。
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Be deeply reluctant to leave
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Be reluctant to part
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Be inseparable; hate to part
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Until the end of time; eternal love
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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: This idiom applies when describing situations involving yearn day and night.
What is the pinyin for 魂牵梦萦?
The pinyin pronunciation for 魂牵梦萦 is “hún qiān mèng yíng”.