8 Chinese Idioms for Wedding Anniversary Wishes
Romantic Chinese idioms for celebrating wedding anniversaries, honoring enduring love and partnership.
Wedding anniversaries celebrate the beauty of enduring love. These Chinese idioms honor the journey of growing together, weathering storms, and the deepening bond between life partners.
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
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
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
青梅竹马
qīng méi zhú mǎChildhood sweethearts or friends
Literal: Green plums and bamboo horses
This nostalgic idiom pairs green plums (青梅) with bamboo horses (竹马), originating from Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai's verse about childhood playmates. It described children gathering plums while riding makeshift hobby horses crafted from bamboo—a common children's game in ancient China. The specific imag...
Example
The couple had known each other since early childhood, playing together in their village
这对夫妇从小就认识，在村子里一起玩耍
形影不离
xíng yǐng bù líInseparable; always together
Literal: Body and shadow never separate
This idiom compares close companions to a person (形, form/body) and their shadow (影) that never (不) separate (离). The phrase originates from ancient Chinese poetry expressing the pain of loneliness, where one had only their shadow for company. It evolved to describe the most intimate of relationship...
Example
The two friends are inseparable, always seen together.
这两个朋友形影不离，总是在一起。
相濡以沫
xiāng rú yǐ mòHelp each other in adversity
Literal: Moisten each other with foam
This idiom describes moistening each other (相濡) with foam (以沫). From Zhuangzi's parable of fish in a drying pond who keep each other alive by sharing their foam. Though Zhuangzi suggested freedom was better, the phrase came to represent devoted mutual support during hardship. Modern usage describes ...
Example
The elderly couple supported each other through their difficult years.
这对老夫妻在困难岁月里相濡以沫。
相敬如宾
xiāng jìng rú bīnTreat each other with respect
Literal: Respect each other like guests
This idiom describes respecting each other (相敬) like guests (如宾). It comes from Zuozhuan describing an ideal married couple who maintained the courtesy usually reserved for guests. The phrase depicts marriages where respect never fades into familiarity. Modern usage describes relationships, especial...
Example
Their long marriage was built on mutual respect.
他们的婚姻长久，建立在相敬如宾的基础上。
白头偕老
bái tóu xié lǎoGrow old together; lifelong partnership
Literal: White heads together in old age
This idiom describes white (白) heads (头) together (偕) in old age (老). It depicts couples who grow old together, their hair turning white side by side. The phrase is a common blessing at weddings. Modern usage expresses wishes for lasting marriages, the hope that couples will remain devoted until bot...
Example
They wished the newlyweds a lifetime of happiness together.
他们祝愿新婚夫妇白头偕老。
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