8 Beautiful Chinese Idioms About Love & Romance
Discover romantic Chinese idioms that express love, devotion, and relationships in poetic ways.
Chinese idioms about love are among the most poetic in the language. These expressions have been used for centuries to describe the depths of human affection, from first meetings to lifelong devotion.
爱屋及乌
ài wū jí wūLove extends to all connections
Literal: Love house and its crow
This tender expression describes how love (爱) for a house (屋) extends (及) even to the crow (乌) perched on its roof. Dating back to the Warring States period, it first appeared in texts discussing how affection naturally spreads to associated things. The crow, often considered an unremarkable bird, b...
Example
She loved her friend so much that she even cherished her friend's peculiar habits
她如此喜欢她的朋友，连朋友的怪癖也觉得可爱
以心换心
yǐ xīn huàn xīnTreat others as yourself
Literal: Exchange heart for heart
This idiom emerged during the Han Dynasty, expressing the profound concept of exchanging (换) one heart (心) for another (以). It first appeared in diplomatic texts describing the ideal approach to building trust between warring states. The repetition of '心' (heart) emphasizes genuine reciprocity rathe...
Example
She always remembers to help those who helped her
她总是记得回报帮助过她的人
风雨同舟
fēng yǔ tóng zhōuShare hardships together
Literal: Share boat in wind and rain
Closely related to '同舟共济' but with added emotional depth, this idiom evokes sharing a boat (同舟) amid wind (风) and rain (雨). It first appeared in Song Dynasty poetry describing political allies weathering court intrigues together. The imagery draws from the experiences of river travelers who formed d...
Example
The partners stood by each other through business difficulties
合伙人在企业困难时期互相支持
同舟共济
tóng zhōu gòng jìFace challenges together
Literal: Cross river in same boat
This idiom shares deep connections with China's river-centric civilization, where crossing (济) together (共) in the same boat (同舟) was often a matter of life and death. Ancient texts tell of strangers becoming allies when facing treacherous waters, especially along the mighty Yangtze. During the Thre...
Example
The community united to help those affected by the disaster
社区团结起来帮助受灾群众
倾盖如故
qīng gài rú gùInstant friendship
Literal: Tilt hat like old friends
Dating to the Spring and Autumn period, this elegant idiom describes the instant rapport between kindred spirits, comparing it to tilting (倾) carriage covers (盖) while greeting as if (如) old (故) friends. The image comes from ancient Chinese road etiquette, where travelers would tilt their carriage c...
Example
The two scientists immediately recognized their shared passion for research
两位科学家立即认识到他们对研究的共同热情
雪中送炭
xuě zhōng sòng tànHelp in time of need
Literal: Send coal in snow
Sending (送) coal (炭) in snow (雪) weather captured the essence of timely assistance during critical moments. This Song Dynasty idiom arose from stories of wealthy merchants who distributed fuel to poor families during harsh winters, when coal prices typically soared beyond reach. The image of dark co...
Example
The timely loan helped the company survive the economic crisis
及时的贷款帮助公司度过了经济危机
以和为贵
yǐ hé wéi guìValue harmony above all
Literal: Value harmony as precious
This idiom, promoting harmony (和) as precious (贵), traces back to the Zhou Dynasty classic 'Guoyu,' reflecting early Chinese diplomatic philosophy. The concept gained renewed importance during the Tang Dynasty's cosmopolitan empire, where it guided both domestic governance and international relation...
Example
Instead of arguing, they found a compromise that benefited everyone
他们没有争吵，而是找到了一个对大家都有利的折中方案
春风化雨
chūn fēng huà yǔGentle, nurturing influence
Literal: Spring wind becomes rain
This poetic metaphor traces back to the Han Dynasty's educational philosophy, where ideal teaching was compared to spring winds (春风) transforming into nurturing rain (化雨). The imagery draws from agricultural wisdom – spring breezes and gentle rains nurture plants without forcing growth. Scholar Han ...
Example
The teacher's patient guidance slowly transformed the struggling student
老师耐心的引导慢慢改变了这个困难学生
Quick Reference
More Chinese Idiom Lists
10 Powerful Chinese Idioms for Business Success
Master these essential Chinese idioms (chengyu) to impress in business meetings, negotiations, and professional settings.
10 Chinese Idioms Every Student Should Know
Essential Chinese idioms about learning, education, and academic success that will inspire your studies.
8 Meaningful Chinese Idioms About Friendship
Celebrate the bonds of friendship with these heartfelt Chinese idioms about loyalty, trust, and companionship.
10 Inspiring Chinese Idioms About Success
Motivational Chinese idioms about achieving success, overcoming obstacles, and reaching your goals.
Learn Chinese Idioms Daily
Get a new Chinese idiom delivered to your home screen every day with our free iOS app. Features pinyin pronunciation, meanings, and cultural context.
Download Free App