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10 Romantic Chinese Idioms for Weddings & Marriage

Beautiful Chinese idioms perfect for wedding wishes, toasts, and celebrating love.

Chinese weddings traditionally incorporate auspicious idioms (成语) to bless the couple. These expressions wish for eternal love, happiness, and harmony.

爱屋及乌

ài wū jí wū

Love extends to all connections

Literal meaning: Love house and its crow

This tender expression describes how love (爱) for a house (屋) extends (及) even to the crow (乌) perched on its roof. Dating back to the Warring States period, it first appeared in texts discussing how affection naturally spreads to associated things. The crow, often considered an unremarkable bird, b...

Example

She loved her friend so much that she even cherished her friend's peculiar habits

她如此喜欢她的朋友，连朋友的怪癖也觉得可爱

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爱毛反裘

ài máo fǎn qiú

Honor one's teachers or humble origins

Literal meaning: Love fur turn inside-out fur coat

The Warring States period text 'Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals' introduces this image of loving fur (爱毛) so much that one turns a fur coat inside out (反裘) to examine its foundation. Han Dynasty scholars transformed it into a metaphor for valuing origins over appearances. In northern China, where fur ...

Example

Despite his formal training, he respected the folk traditions of his hometown artisans

尽管受过正规训练，他仍尊重家乡民间工匠的传统

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待人热情

dài rén rè qíng

Treat others with genuine warmth and enthusiasm

Literal meaning: Treat people warmly

This phrase originated from Song Dynasty etiquette manuals for merchant households, first providing guidance for commercial hospitality before broadening to general interpersonal warmth. During the Ming Dynasty, it entered assessments of social cultivation and character. The concept of treating othe...

Example

The small-town shopkeeper greeted every customer like an old friend

小镇店主像对待老朋友一样迎接每位顾客

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心甘情愿

xīn gān qíng yuàn

Willingly; without reluctance

Literal meaning: Heart sweet feeling willing

This idiom describes a state where the heart (心) finds sweetness (甘) and feelings (情) are willing (愿). It emphasizes genuine, voluntary acceptance without resentment or coercion. The phrase appeared in Tang Dynasty poetry describing devotion freely given. The combination of emotional satisfaction wi...

Example

She willingly made sacrifices for her family's wellbeing.

她心甘情愿为家人的幸福做出牺牲。

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情投意合

qíng tóu yì hé

Be perfectly compatible; hit it off

Literal meaning: Feelings cast, ideas match

This idiom describes feelings (情) being cast together (投) and ideas (意) matching (合). It depicts natural compatibility where both emotions and thoughts align. The phrase captures the experience of meeting someone who just fits. Modern usage describes instant rapport, the rare experience of finding s...

Example

From their first meeting, they knew they were kindred spirits.

从第一次见面，他们就知道彼此情投意合。

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白头偕老

bái tóu xié lǎo

Grow old together; lifelong partnership

Literal meaning: White heads together in old age

This idiom describes white (白) heads (头) together (偕) in old age (老). It depicts couples who grow old together, their hair turning white side by side. The phrase is a common blessing at weddings. Modern usage expresses wishes for lasting marriages, the hope that couples will remain devoted until bot...

Example

They wished the newlyweds a lifetime of happiness together.

他们祝愿新婚夫妇白头偕老。

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一见钟情

yī jiàn zhōng qíng

Love at first sight

Literal meaning: One glance, feelings concentrate

This idiom describes at one (一) glance (见) feelings (情) concentrate (钟). It captures the experience of instant romantic attraction where love strikes at first sight. The phrase appeared in classical literature describing sudden, overwhelming romantic feelings. Modern usage describes love at first si...

Example

He fell in love with her the moment he saw her.

他第一眼见到她就一见钟情。

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