朝夕相处
*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.
1. Basic Information
- Pinyin: zhāo xī xiāng chǔ
- English Translation: To be together from morning till night
- Idiom Composition: 「朝」(Morning)
+ 「夕」(Evening or dusk) + 「相」(Mutually or with each other) + 「处」(To get along with, to live with, or to spend time with) - Meaning: To spend a great deal of time together from morning until evening. It describes a very close relationship where people share their daily lives, such as family members, roommates, or colleagues.
2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances
「朝夕相处」 contains the following nuances:
- Shared Time: This idiom emphasizes the physical reality of spending long hours together, rather than just the quality of the friendship.
- Deepening of Bonds: It usually implies that as a result of this shared time, mutual understanding or emotional connection has naturally deepened.
- Neutral Tone: While generally used in positive contexts (closeness), it can also be used neutrally to describe the simple state of living or working in close proximity.
3. Usage
「朝夕相处」 is mainly used in the following contexts:
- Parting or Farewells: Frequently used when leaving companions after a long period of shared time, such as graduation or job transfers, to express a sense of reluctance or nostalgia.
- Example:「就要离开朝夕相处的同学们了,心里真有点舍不得。」
(I am truly reluctant to leave the classmates I have spent every day and night with.)
- Example:「就要离开朝夕相处的同学们了,心里真有点舍不得。」
- Describing Relationships: Used to explain how closely involved couples, lovers, or best friends are with one another.
- Example:「这对老夫妻结婚五十年来朝夕相处,从未红过脸。」
(This elderly couple has been together day and night for fifty years since they married, and they have never once argued.)
- Example:「这对老夫妻结婚五十年来朝夕相处,从未红过脸。」
- Relationships with Animals: Can be used to describe the intimate bond between a pet owner and their animal.
- Example:「他和这只导盲犬朝夕相处,早已把它当成了家人。」
(He has spent so much time with this guide dog that he has long since considered it a member of the family.)
- Example:「他和这只导盲犬朝夕相处,早已把它当成了家人。」
Additional Examples:
- 经过几个月的朝夕相处,大家建立了深厚的友谊。
(After spending every day and night together for several months, a deep friendship developed among everyone.) - 虽然我们是朝夕相处的同事,但我对他私下的生活一无所知。
(Although we are colleagues who see each other every day, I know nothing about his private life.) - 为了完成这个项目,团队成员们朝夕相处,共同奋斗了一个月。
(To complete this project, the team members spent day and night together, fighting side-by-side for a month.) - 习惯了和奶奶朝夕相处的日子,现在一个人住觉得很孤单。
(I was so used to the days of being together constantly with my grandmother that living alone now feels very lonely.)
4. Cultural Background and Notes
- Unlike many idioms that originate from ancient fables, 朝夕相处 (zhāo xī xiāng chǔ) evolved naturally from its literal meaning. It is found in modern literature, such as My Life (我的生活) by Feng Yuxiang (冯玉祥), and is extremely common in modern daily speech.
- In China, school life—especially at the university level—is centered around dormitory living. Because classmates are often roommates who share the same living space for years, 朝夕相处 (zhāo xī xiāng chǔ) is a key term used with deep emotion when reflecting on student friendships.
5. Similar and Opposite Idioms
- Similar Idioms:
- Opposite Idioms:
- 天各一方 (tiān gè yī fāng): To be far apart from each other, like opposite ends of the sky.
- 萍水相逢 (píng shuǐ xiāng féng): A chance encounter between strangers, like duckweed meeting on the water's surface.link
- 离群索居 (lí qún suǒ jū): To live in solitude, away from the crowd.link
- 视同陌路 (shì tóng mò lù): To treat someone as a stranger.link
6. Summary
朝夕相处 (zhāo xī xiāng chǔ) literally means "morning and evening together." It describes a state of being inseparable or spending nearly all of one's time with someone else. It is frequently used to express the deep bonds formed through shared daily routines, often appearing in contexts like graduation or moving away from long-term companions. It suggests not just physical proximity, but the emotional connection that grows from it.
