情投意合

Pronunciation: qíng tóu yì hé Literal meaning: Feelings accord, intentions agree

Origin & Usage

Feelings (情) thrown toward each other (投) and intentions (意) meeting (合). 投 here is not 'to throw' but 契合, to fit or accord — the same sense as 合 in the second half — so both halves say agreement, one of feeling and one of intention. Two people who took to each other immediately — friendship and romance both, with the emphasis on the fit rather than on the intensity.

Examples

English: "From their first meeting, they knew they were kindred spirits."

Chinese: 从第一次见面，他们就知道彼此情投意合。