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 & character.
Also searched as: xin zhao bu xuan, xin zhao bu xuan,心照不宣 meaning, 心照不宣 in english
Pronunciation: xīn zhào bù xuān Literal meaning: Hearts illuminate without declaring
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes hearts (心) that illuminate/understand each other (照) without (不) explicit declaration (宣). It captures the special rapport between people who understand each other so well that verbal communication becomes unnecessary. The phrase values intuitive understanding over explicit statement. It appears in texts describing close relationships, from friendships to business partnerships. Modern usage describes tacit agreements, unspoken understandings, or situations where people intuitively know what others think.
When to Use
Situation: The partners shared an unspoken agreement about how to handle the situation.
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
不远千里
bù yuǎn qiān lǐ
Willingly travel far; make great efforts
Learn more →
朝思暮想
zhāo sī mù xiǎng
Think about constantly; yearn for
Learn more →
魂牵梦萦
hún qiān mèng yíng
Yearn day and night
Learn more →
恋恋不舍
liàn liàn bù shě
Be deeply reluctant to leave
Learn more →
难分难舍
nán fēn nán shě
Be inseparable; hate to part
Learn more →
海枯石烂
hǎi kū shí làn
Until the end of time; eternal love
Learn more →
一见钟情
yī jiàn zhōng qíng
Love at first sight
Learn more →
白头偕老
bái tóu xié lǎo
Grow old together; lifelong partnership
Learn more →
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 theRelationships & 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”.