一厢情愿
一厢情愿 (yī xiāng qíng yuàn) literally means “one side's wishful feeling” and expresses “wishful thinking; one-sided assumption”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: yi xiang qing yuan, yi xiang qing yuan,一厢情愿 meaning, 一厢情愿 in english
Wishful thinking; one-sided assumption
Pronunciation: yī xiāng qíng yuàn Literal meaning: One side's wishful feeling
Origin & Usage
Willingness (情愿) on one (一) side (厢) only. 厢 is a wing or side chamber of a building, and the spatial figure does precise work: the feeling is real, it is simply confined to one room, and nothing corresponding to it exists in the other. That is why the phrase is not a synonym for wrong. Unreciprocated affection, assumptions about what a counterparty wants, plans resting on an agreement nobody ever sought — gently deflating rather than cruel.
Examples
English: "His belief that she would agree was just wishful thinking."
Chinese: 他认为她会同意，不过是一厢情愿。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
触景生情
chù jǐng shēng qíng
Moved by the sight of something familiar
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心甘情愿
xīn gān qíng yuàn
Willingly; without reluctance
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事与愿违
shì yǔ yuàn wéi
Things turn out contrary to expectations
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恍如隔世
huǎng rú gé shì
Feeling as if ages have passed
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息息相关
xī xī xiāng guān
Closely related; intimately connected
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迫不及待
pò bù jí dài
Can't wait; eager
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故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
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安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 一厢情愿 mean in English?
一厢情愿 (yī xiāng qíng yuàn) literally translates to “One side's wishful feeling” and is used to express “Wishful thinking; one-sided assumption”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 一厢情愿 used?
Situation: His belief that she would agree was just wishful thinking.
What is the pinyin for 一厢情愿?
The pinyin pronunciation for 一厢情愿 is “yī xiāng qíng yuàn”.