心照不宣
心照不宣 (xīn zhào bù xuān) literally means “hearts illuminate without declaring” and expresses “tacit understanding; unspoken agreement”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: xin zhao bu xuan, xin zhao bu xuan,心照不宣 meaning, 心照不宣 in english
Tacit understanding; unspoken agreement
Pronunciation: xīn zhào bù xuān Literal meaning: Hearts illuminate without declaring
Origin & Usage
Hearts (心) lit (照) for one another, with nothing (不) announced (宣). 照 is illumination that reveals rather than a signal that is sent, so the understanding is treated as a condition already in place and not as a message that got through. That is what separates it from tact or from hinting. Two people who never needed to agree anything because it was never in question — or, more coolly, a room where everybody knows what is going on and nobody intends to be the one who says it.
Examples
English: "The partners shared an unspoken agreement about how to handle the situation."
Chinese: 合伙人心照不宣地达成了共识。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
肝胆相照
gān dǎn xiāng zhào
Share complete trust and loyalty
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推心置腹
tuī xīn zhì fù
Speak from the heart; confide completely
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依依不舍
yī yī bù shě
Reluctant to part; lingering attachment
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无微不至
wú wēi bù zhì
Meticulous; attentive to every detail
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恋恋不舍
liàn liàn bù shě
Be deeply reluctant to leave
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半面之交
bàn miàn zhī jiāo
Superficial acquaintance without depth
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平易近人
píng yì jìn rén
Approachable; easy to get along with
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刎颈之交
wěn jǐng zhī jiāo
Be sworn friends; absolute loyalty
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 心照不宣 mean in English?
心照不宣 (xīn zhào bù xuān) literally translates to “Hearts illuminate without declaring” and is used to express “Tacit understanding; unspoken agreement”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 心照不宣 used?
Situation: The partners shared an unspoken agreement about how to handle the situation.
What is the pinyin for 心照不宣?
The pinyin pronunciation for 心照不宣 is “xīn zhào bù xuān”.