相见恨晚
相见恨晚 (xiāng jiàn hèn wǎn) literally means “meeting each other regret it was late” and expresses “regret not meeting sooner; instant rapport”. 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: xiang jian hen wan, xiang jian hen wan,相见恨晚 meaning, 相见恨晚 in english
Regret not meeting sooner; instant rapport
Pronunciation: xiāng jiàn hèn wǎn
Literal meaning: Meeting each other regret it was late
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes meeting (相见) and regretting (恨) it was late (晚). It expresses the feeling when connecting with someone special and wishing the relationship had begun sooner. The phrase appeared in classical literature describing profound connections between people who felt their meeting was overdue. Modern usage expresses strong affinity with someone new, suggesting the relationship feels as if it should have started long ago.
Examples
English: "The two researchers wished they had met years earlier."
Chinese: 两位研究者相见恨晚，希望能更早相识。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 相见恨晚 mean in English?
相见恨晚 (xiāng jiàn hèn wǎn) literally translates to “Meeting each other regret it was late” and is used to express “Regret not meeting sooner; instant rapport”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 相见恨晚 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving regret not meeting sooner; instant rapport.
What is the pinyin for 相见恨晚?
The pinyin pronunciation for 相见恨晚 is “xiāng jiàn hèn wǎn”.