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卿卿我我 (qīng qīng wǒ wǒ) — to bill and coo; to be very much in love, whispering sweet nothings

Definition

A literary, set-phrase idiom for lovers whispering sweet nothings and being lovey-dovey. Often used to tease a couple for being overly affectionate.

bound form
to bill and cooto be very much in lovewhispering sweet nothings

Examples

  • 卿卿我我，。
    Gōng yuán lǐ nà duì qíng lǚ yòu zài qīng qīng wǒ wǒ le, zhēn ràng rén xiàn mù.
    That couple in the park is billing and cooing again — really enviable.
  • 卿卿我我，。
    Tā men jié hūn zhè me duō nián hái zhěng tiān qīng qīng wǒ wǒ de, gǎn qíng zhēn hǎo.
    They've been married for so many years and are still all lovey-dovey all day — their relationship is really good.
  • 卿卿我我，。
    Bié zhǐ gù zhe qīng qīng wǒ wǒ, gāi tán zhèng shì le.
    Don't just focus on sweet talk — it's time to discuss business.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 𠨍𠨍𠨍two men facing each other
  • 皀皀jífood vessel with a stand

The shape 卿 shows 𠨍, two men facing each other, beside 皀, a food vessel on a stand, as a scene of people sharing a ritual feast.

Open 卿 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 𠨍𠨍𠨍two men facing each other
  • 皀皀jífood vessel with a stand

The shape 卿 shows 𠨍, two men facing each other, beside 皀, a food vessel on a stand, as a scene of people sharing a ritual feast.

Open 卿 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

The glyph 我 originally drew a trident-like weapon. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write the pronoun "I", so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 我 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

The glyph 我 originally drew a trident-like weapon. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write the pronoun "I", so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 我 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesRomance & Marriage

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