水乳交融 (shuǐ rǔ jiāo róng) — in perfect harmony; seamlessly blended; naturally integrated

Definition

A vivid idiom meaning two things blend as seamlessly as water mixed with milk — used for people, ideas, or styles in perfect harmony. More literary and emphatic than the plain 融洽.

idiom
in perfect harmonyseamlessly blendednaturally integrated

Examples

  • ，水乳交融。
    Tā men liǎ hé zuò duō nián, zǎo yǐ dá dào shuǐ rǔ jiāo róng de jìng jiè.
    They have been collaborating for many years and have already reached a state of perfect harmony.
  • 水乳交融，。
    Zhè fú huà sè cǎi shuǐ rǔ jiāo róng, lìng rén shǎng xīn yuè mù.
    The colors in this painting blend harmoniously, delighting the eye and heart.
  • ，水乳交融，。
    Zài tuán duì zhōng, měi gè rén de tè cháng shuǐ rǔ jiāo róng, gōng zuò cái néng gāo xiào.
    Within a team, only when everyone's strengths merge seamlessly can work be efficient.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

Open 水 →

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

乳 originally drew a kneeling woman holding and breastfeeding a child, matching its meanings of breast and milk.

Open 乳 →

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

交 originally drew a human with crossed legs. In the modern shape, the upper part resembles a standing person.

Open 交 →

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
鬲鬲gécauldron
Sound part声符shēngfú
蟲
蟲chóng融róng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

融 pairs 鬲, a cauldron, with 蟲, which gives the sound.

Open 融 →

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