qinshe heming: 琴瑟和鸣 - Marital Harmony, Perfect Accord

• Keywords: qinshe heming, 琴瑟和鸣, Chinese idiom for marriage, marital harmony, harmonious couple, Chinese wedding blessing, qin and se, perfect accord, Chinese culture marriage, learn Chinese chengyu.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 琴瑟和鸣 (qínsèhémíng), a beautiful Chinese idiom describing perfect marital harmony. Rooted in ancient poetry, this phrase uses the metaphor of two traditional instruments, the qin and the se, playing in perfect accord to symbolize a deeply harmonious and loving relationship between a husband and wife. This entry explores its cultural significance, modern usage in weddings and congratulations, and provides practical examples for learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qín sè hé míng
• Part of Speech: Idiom (Chengyu, 成语)
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: A husband and wife living in perfect harmony, like the beautiful sound of two instruments playing together.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine two ancient Chinese stringed instruments, the elegant `琴 (qín)` and the larger `瑟 (sè)`. When played together by skilled musicians, they create a beautiful, harmonious sound. `琴瑟和鸣` uses this powerful musical imagery to describe the ideal relationship between a couple—one that is perfectly in sync, complementary, and creates a life of beauty and peace together. It's the ultimate expression of a harmonious partnership.

• 琴 (qín): Refers to the *qin* or *guqin*, a seven-stringed zither. It's a symbol of elegance, refinement, and scholarly pursuits in Chinese culture.
• 瑟 (sè): The *se*, a larger, ancient Chinese zither, typically with 25 strings. It produces a richer, more resonant sound that complements the qin.
• 和 (hé): Means “harmony,” “peace,” or “together.” This is a cornerstone concept in Chinese philosophy, emphasizing balance and concord.
• 鸣 (míng): Means “to sound,” “to resonate,” or “to sing” (like a bird). It implies a vibrant, active sound.

Together, `琴瑟和鸣` literally translates to “the qin and the se sound in harmony.” The two instruments, different yet complementary, represent the husband and wife, who together create a life that is more beautiful than their individual lives alone.

The idiom originates from the ancient 《诗经》(Book of Odes), China's oldest collection of poetry. One line reads, “妻子好合，如鼓琴瑟,” which means “When a wife and husband are in happy union, it is like playing the qin and se.” This highlights a core value in traditional Chinese culture: marital harmony (和). Unlike the Western emphasis on passionate romance or individualism, the ideal relationship in this context is one of stability, mutual support, and complementary balance. `琴瑟和鸣` is the poetic embodiment of this ideal. A Western parallel might be “soulmates” or “being perfectly in sync,” but these phrases lack the specific, artistic metaphor. `琴瑟和鸣` is less about two people being the same (“two peas in a pod”) and more about two different individuals complementing each other perfectly to create a harmonious whole, much like a musical duet. It suggests an active, ongoing effort to stay in tune with one another.

`琴瑟和鸣` is a formal and literary idiom. You won't hear it in casual daily conversation, but it's very common in specific, celebratory contexts.

• Weddings and Anniversaries: It is a go-to phrase for wedding cards, speeches, and congratulatory messages. It's a high-level compliment and a sincere wish for the couple's future.
• Formal Compliments: You might use it to praise a couple you admire, especially an older couple who has been married for a long time, signifying their lasting and deep connection.
• Literature and Media: It frequently appears in song lyrics, poetry, and TV show dialogues to describe an ideal romantic relationship.

Its connotation is overwhelmingly positive and carries a sense of elegance and deep cultural respect for the institution of marriage.

• Example 1:
  • 祝你们新婚快乐，琴瑟和鸣，白头偕老！
  • Pinyin: Zhù nǐmen xīnhūn kuàilè, qínsèhémíng, báitóuxiélǎo!
  • English: Wishing you a happy wedding, a harmonious life together, and to grow old with one another!
  • Analysis: This is a classic wedding blessing, combining several auspicious idioms. `琴瑟和鸣` is used here as a core wish for the newlyweds.
• Example 2:
  • 看到我爷爷奶奶那副琴瑟和鸣的样子，我才真正懂了什么是爱情。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào wǒ yéye nǎinai nà fù qínsèhémíng de yàngzi, wǒ cái zhēnzhèng dǒngle shénme shì àiqíng.
  • English: Seeing my grandparents' harmonious relationship, I finally understood what love truly is.
  • Analysis: Here, the idiom is used as an adjective phrase to describe the deep, observable harmony of an elderly couple.
• Example 3:
  • 他们夫妻俩一个是急性子，一个是慢性子，但却意外地琴瑟和鸣。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen fūqī liǎ yīge shì jíxìngzi, yīge shì mànxìngzi, dàn què yìwài de qínsèhémíng.
  • English: The couple consists of one impatient person and one slow-paced person, but unexpectedly, they are in perfect harmony.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights that the idiom doesn't mean the two people are identical, but rather that their differences complement each other perfectly.
• Example 4:
  • 一段美好的婚姻需要双方共同经营，才能达到琴瑟和鸣的境界。
  • Pinyin: Yī duàn měihǎo de hūnyīn xūyào shuāngfāng gòngtóng jīngyíng, cáinéng dádào qínsèhémíng de jìngjiè.
  • English: A good marriage requires joint effort from both sides to achieve a state of perfect harmony.
  • Analysis: This example treats `琴瑟和鸣` as an ideal state or “realm” (境界) to be achieved through effort.
• Example 5:
  • 这对商业伙伴合作无间，可以说在事业上达到了琴瑟和鸣。
  • Pinyin: Zhè duì shāngyè huǒbàn hézuò wújiàn, kěyǐ shuō zài shìyè shàng dádàole qínsèhémíng.
  • English: This pair of business partners cooperates seamlessly; you could say they've achieved perfect harmony in their careers.
  • Analysis: A metaphorical and less common usage. It applies the concept of harmonious partnership to a professional context, emphasizing their perfect synergy.
• Example 6:
  • 他们的婚姻生活并非总是琴瑟和鸣，也经历过不少风雨。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de hūnyīn shēnghuó bìngfēi zǒngshì qínsèhémíng, yě jīnglìguò bùshǎo fēngyǔ.
  • English: Their married life wasn't always perfectly harmonious; they also went through many storms.
  • Analysis: Used in a negative construction (`并非…`) to show that the ideal is not always the reality.
• Example 7:
  • 主持人在金婚庆典上致辞，称赞老夫妇琴瑟和鸣五十载。
  • Pinyin: Zhǔchírén zài jīnhūn qìngdiǎn shàng zhìcí, chēngzàn lǎo fūfù qínsèhémíng wǔshí zǎi.
  • English: At the golden wedding anniversary celebration, the host gave a speech, praising the old couple for 50 years of marital harmony.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of its use in a formal, celebratory speech.
• Example 8:
  • 古代文学作品中，常以琴瑟和鸣来描绘理想的夫妻关系。
  • Pinyin: Gǔdài wénxué zuòpǐn zhōng, cháng yǐ qínsèhémíng lái miáohuì lǐxiǎng de fūqī guānxì.
  • English: In ancient literary works, `qínsèhémíng` is often used to depict the ideal husband-wife relationship.
  • Analysis: This sentence explains the term's function and origin, useful in an academic or descriptive context.
• Example 9:
  • 愿天下有情人都琴瑟和鸣，幸福美满。
  • Pinyin: Yuàn tiānxià yǒuqíngrén dōu qínsèhémíng, xìngfú měimǎn.
  • English: May all lovers in the world live in perfect harmony and happiness.
  • Analysis: A broad, poetic wish, extending the ideal of the idiom to all couples.
• Example 10:
  • 他们的感情基础很牢固，婚后生活一直琴瑟和鸣。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de gǎnqíng jīchǔ hěn láogù, hūnhòu shēnghuó yīzhí qínsèhémíng.
  • English: Their emotional foundation is very solid, and their married life has always been one of perfect harmony.
  • Analysis: This links the state of `琴瑟和鸣` to a strong foundation, showing cause and effect.

• Not for Casual Relationships: A common mistake is using this idiom for a new or dating couple. `琴瑟和鸣` implies a deep, stable, and often long-term harmony, almost exclusively reserved for married couples or those in a very serious, committed partnership. For a couple that just gets along well, you'd use a simpler term like `很合得来 (hěn hédelái)`.
• Exclusively for Couples: Do not use `琴瑟和鸣` to describe the relationship between friends, siblings, or colleagues (with the rare metaphorical exception for business partners as shown in Example 5, which is very literary). Its meaning is deeply tied to the marital bond.
• Deeper than “Getting Along”: This idiom is not a simple synonym for “getting along.” It represents the pinnacle of harmony—a spiritual, emotional, and practical alignment that is both beautiful and profound. It's an ideal to strive for, not just a description of a conflict-free relationship.

• 比翼双飞 (bǐ yì shuāng fēi): To fly wing to wing. Describes an inseparable couple, often sharing the same ambitions and life path.
• 举案齐眉 (jǔ àn qí méi): Lifting the tray to eyebrow level. An idiom describing deep mutual respect between husband and wife.
• 天作之合 (tiān zuò zhī hé): A match made in heaven. Emphasizes the predestined and perfect nature of a pairing.
• 百年好合 (bǎi nián hǎo hé): A hundred years of good union. A common wedding blessing wishing the couple a long and happy life together.
• 相敬如宾 (xiāng jìng rú bīn): To treat each other with the respect due to a guest. Focuses on the politeness and mutual respect within a marriage.
• 夫唱妇随 (fū chàng fù suí): The husband sings and the wife follows. A more traditional, and now sometimes controversial, idiom describing a wife's harmony by following her husband's lead.
• 琴瑟不调 (qín sè bù tiáo): The qin and se are out of tune. The direct antonym of `琴瑟和鸣`, meaning marital discord or a disharmonious relationship.