CHENGYU
一见钟情(yī jiàn zhōng qíng)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- neutral
- Source:
- 清·古吴墨浪子《西湖佳话·西泠韵迹》
MEANING
- Literal
- to fall in love at first sight
- Figurative meaning
- love at first sight
ORIGIN STORY
From a Qing tale of the West Lake: a young woman says to her lover, "You loved me at first sight, and my heart answered." The phrase catches the moment love strikes the instant eyes meet.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“love at first sight”
EXAMPLES
他们一见钟情，很快就结婚了。Tāmen yī jiàn zhōng qíng, hěn kuài jiù jiéhūn le.HSK6
It was love at first sight, and they soon married.
电影里的男女主角一见钟情。Diànyǐng li de nán nǚ zhǔjué yī jiàn zhōng qíng.HSK6
The film's hero and heroine fall in love the moment they meet.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: Note the reading: 钟 is zhōng. It is strictly romantic — unlike 一见如故.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
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TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01