Definition
冤家 literally means 'enemy' or 'foe', often an adversary you are fated to oppose — as in the idiom 冤家路窄 ('enemies meet on a narrow path'). But paradoxically, it also refers to a destined lover or sweetheart in traditional Chinese literature and speech, capturing the love-hate tension of fated love. The romantic sense is more classical and less common in daily use, but still recognized. Always use with caution: the same word can mean 'worst enemy' or 'sweetheart' depending on context.
noun
an enemya foe (often one fated to oppose)(traditional) one's destined loversweetheart
Examples
- 冤家，。Tāmen liǎng gè shì duō nián de yuān jiā, yí jiàn miàn jiù chǎojià.Those two are old enemies — they argue as soon as they meet.
- ：“冤家，。”Tā qīngshēng xiào dào: “Nǐ zhège yuān jiā, zǒng ràng wǒ yòu ài yòu hèn.”She smiled softly and said, 'You, my sweetheart, always make me both love and hate you.'
- 冤家，。Zhēn shì yuān jiā lù zhǎi, zài chāoshì yòu pèng dào tā le.What a small world — I ran into him again at the supermarket.
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