不解之缘 (bù jiě zhī yuán) — an indissoluble bond; a deep, unbreakable conne…

Definition

A fixed phrase for a deep, fated bond — typically used for lasting connections with a place, activity, or person. Pinyin is bùjiě zhī yuán.

noun

an indissoluble bonda deepunbreakable connection (often fated or lasting)

不解之缘。
Tā yǔ yīn yuè jié xià le bù jiě zhī yuán.
He forged an indissoluble bond with music.
，不解之缘。
Zì cóng lái dào zhè zuò chéng shì, tā jiù yǔ zhè lǐ jié xià le bù jiě zhī yuán.
Ever since he came to this city, he has formed an unbreakable bond with it.
，不解之缘。
Zhè duì lǎo fū qī gǎn qíng shēn hòu, zhēn shì yǒu bù jiě zhī yuán.
This old couple's love is deep; they truly have an indissoluble bond.

Characters in this word

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

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

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

角刀牛解

解 shows 刀 (knife) separating 角 (horn) from 牛 (cow), giving the picture of cutting up an ox.

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

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 緣; 缘 is its simplified writing.

糹彖緣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糹Written in full as糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

彖

彖tuàn緣⁰yuán

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

The traditional form 緣 puts 糸 (silk) beside 彖, which gives the sound; the simplified 缘 is a later abbreviation.