青梅竹马

Pronunciation: qīng méi zhú mǎ Literal meaning: Green plums and bamboo horses

Origin & Usage

Li Bai's Changgan Ballad has a woman remembering her husband when both were small: he came riding a bamboo horse (竹马), and they circled the well playing with green plums (青梅). The two props are ordinary children's things and the poem is about a marriage that grew out of them. The phrase names that specific history — a couple who knew each other before either was anyone — and the warmth in it usually carries a note of envy.

Examples

English: "The couple had known each other since early childhood, playing together in their village"

Chinese: 这对夫妇从小就认识，在村子里一起玩耍