一往情深 (yì wǎng qíng shēn) — to be deeply and passionately devoted (to a per…

Definition

A literary idiom meaning 'deeply, passionately devoted' to someone or something — more emotional and written than everyday 喜欢.

idiom

to be deeply and passionately devoted (to a person, cause, or interest)

一往情深，。
Tā duì yīn yuè yì wǎng qíng shēn, cóng xiǎo jiù lì zhì dāng yīn yuè jiā.
He is deeply devoted to music and has aspired to be a musician since childhood.
一往情深，。
Tā duì gù xiāng yì wǎng qíng shēn, měi nián dōu yào huí qù kàn kàn.
She has a deep passion for her hometown and goes back every year to visit.
一往情深，。
Zhè duì liàn rén yì wǎng qíng shēn, zhōng yú zǒu jìn le hūn yīn de diàn táng.
This couple is passionately devoted to each other and finally entered the hall of marriage.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

王

Same sound today

The form that became 往 paired 止, a foot, with 王 for the sound; a stepping part was later added, and the right side changed.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

青

Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

𥥍

𥥍𥥍深shēn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

深 is built from 氵, the side form of 水 “water”, and 𥥍, which supplies the sound.