qīngméizhúmǎ: 青梅竹马 - Childhood Sweethearts, Childhood Friends

• Keywords: qingmeizhuma, 青梅竹马, childhood sweethearts in Chinese, childhood friends Chinese meaning, Chinese idiom for friends since childhood, qing mei zhu ma, green plums and bamboo horse, Li Bai poem, opposite sex childhood friends
• Summary: 青梅竹马 (qīngméizhúmǎ) is a beautiful and nostalgic Chinese idiom used to describe a boy and a girl who grew up together as close childhood friends. Literally meaning “green plums and a bamboo horse,” it evokes an image of innocent childhood play and often implies the potential for a deep, lifelong bond or romance. This term, originating from a famous poem by Li Bai, is perfect for understanding the cultural value placed on relationships with a shared history, and is a common trope in Chinese dramas and literature.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qīng méi zhú mǎ
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Chinese Idiom); Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: A male and female who were childhood playmates and grew up together.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a little boy riding a hobbyhorse made of bamboo, and a little girl playing with unripe green plums. This is the literal picture painted by 青梅竹马. It's a term full of warmth and nostalgia that describes the special relationship between a boy and a girl who have known each other since they were very young. While it doesn't automatically mean they are a couple, it strongly suggests a pure, deep connection and the possibility that their friendship could blossom into love.

• 青 (qīng): Green, unripe. Here, it symbolizes the “greenness” of youth and innocence.
• 梅 (méi): Plum. Together, `青梅` (qīng méi) are green, unripe plums, representing the young girl in the original poem.
• 竹 (zhú): Bamboo. A common and culturally significant plant in China.
• 马 (mǎ): Horse. Together, `竹马` (zhú mǎ) is a “bamboo horse” or a hobbyhorse, a simple toy representing the young boy.

The characters combine to create a vivid image of childhood innocence: a girl playing with plums and a boy riding a toy horse. This scene captures the essence of a shared, carefree youth between a boy and a girl.

The term originates from a famous Tang Dynasty poem, “长干行” (A Song of Changgan), by the celebrated poet Li Bai (李白). The key lines are:

郎骑竹马来，绕床弄青梅。
(Láng qí zhú mǎ lái, rào chuáng nòng qīng méi.)
“My love came riding on a bamboo horse, we ran around the well, and I played with green plums.”

In the poem, a woman reminisces about her childhood with the man who would become her husband. This literary origin infuses the idiom with a sense of romance, nostalgia, and destiny. Comparison with “Childhood Sweethearts”: While “childhood sweethearts” is the closest English equivalent, there's a key difference. “Childhood sweethearts” explicitly implies a romantic relationship that started in childhood. `青梅竹马`, however, focuses more on the shared history and innocent friendship. A pair can be described as `青梅竹马` even if they are just close friends as adults. The term describes the foundation of their relationship, while the romantic element is a common, but not guaranteed, outcome. It highlights the cultural value placed on enduring bonds and the idea that a relationship built on a long, shared past is particularly strong and precious.

`青梅竹马` is a widely understood and cherished idiom. It carries a very positive, warm, and often slightly romantic connotation.

• Formality: It's considered a literary term (`成语`, chengyu). While you wouldn't use it as casual slang in every sentence, it's very common in descriptive conversations, storytelling, and especially in media like books, songs, and TV dramas.
• In Media: The `青梅竹马` trope is incredibly popular in Chinese romance dramas. The plot often revolves around two childhood friends who navigate their feelings for each other as they grow up.
• In Conversation: People use it to describe a couple with a long history. For example, when introducing a newly engaged couple, a friend might say, “They're a real `青梅竹马` couple; they've known each other since first grade!” It can also be used with a touch of wistfulness to describe a close childhood friend of the opposite sex.

• Example 1:
  • 他们俩是青梅竹马，感情特别好。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen liǎ shì qīngméizhúmǎ, gǎnqíng tèbié hǎo.
  • English: The two of them are childhood sweethearts; their bond is exceptionally good.
  • Analysis: A straightforward use of the term to describe a close male-female relationship with a shared past.

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• Example 2:
  • 我和我的邻居是青梅竹马，从小一起长大。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ hé wǒ de línjū shì qīngméizhúmǎ, cóngxiǎo yīqǐ zhǎng dà.
  • English: My neighbor and I are childhood friends; we grew up together since we were little.
  • Analysis: This shows how an individual can use the term to describe their own relationship with someone. It emphasizes the “grew up together” aspect.

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• Example 3:
  • 这部电视剧讲述了一对青梅竹马的爱情故事。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànshìjù jiǎngshùle yī duì qīngméizhúmǎ de àiqíng gùshì.
  • English: This TV drama tells the love story of a pair of childhood sweethearts.
  • Analysis: A very common context, referring to the `青梅竹马` trope in media.

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• Example 4:
  • 很多人都以为我们是情侣，但其实我们只是青梅竹马。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō rén dōu yǐwéi wǒmen shì qínglǚ, dàn qíshí wǒmen zhǐshì qīngméizhúmǎ.
  • English: A lot of people thought we were a couple, but actually, we're just childhood friends.
  • Analysis: This example perfectly highlights the nuance. It clarifies that `青梅竹马` doesn't automatically equal “a romantic couple.”

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• Example 5:
  • 他最终娶了自己的青梅竹马为妻。
  • Pinyin: Tā zuìzhōng qǔle zìjǐ de qīngméizhúmǎ wéi qī.
  • English: He finally married his childhood sweetheart.
  • Analysis: Here, `青梅竹马` is used as a noun referring to the person. It shows the romantic ideal coming to fruition.

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• Example 6:
  • 看到他们，我就想起了我和我的青梅竹马度过的童年时光。
  • Pinyin: Kàn dào tāmen, wǒ jiù xiǎngqǐle wǒ hé wǒ de qīngméizhúmǎ dùguò de tóngnián shíguāng.
  • English: Seeing them reminds me of the childhood time I spent with my own childhood friend.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the nostalgic feeling associated with the term.

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• Example 7:
  • 难道你忘了我们是青梅竹马的约定吗？
  • Pinyin: Nándào nǐ wàngle wǒmen shì qīngméizhúmǎ de yuēdìng ma?
  • English: Have you really forgotten the promise we made as childhood friends?
  • Analysis: This sounds like a line from a drama, using the term to add emotional weight to a “promise” or “pact” made long ago.

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• Example 8:
  • 从青梅竹马到白头偕老是很多人羡慕的爱情。
  • Pinyin: Cóng qīngméizhúmǎ dào báitóuxiélǎo shì hěnduō rén xiànmù de àiqíng.
  • English: Going from childhood friends to growing old together is a kind of love many people admire.
  • Analysis: This connects `青梅竹马` with another idiom, `白头偕老` (báitóuxiélǎo - to grow old together), illustrating the ideal life path of such a relationship.

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• Example 9:
  • 虽然他们是青梅竹马，但长大后性格不合，最终还是分开了。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán tāmen shì qīngméizhúmǎ, dàn zhǎng dà hòu xìnggé bùhé, zuìzhōng háishì fēnkāile.
  • English: Although they were childhood friends, their personalities clashed after growing up, and they eventually went their separate ways.
  • Analysis: This provides a realistic counterpoint, showing that a `青梅竹马` connection doesn't guarantee a happy ending.

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• Example 10:
  • 在婚礼上，新郎说：“我的新娘，也是我唯一的青梅竹马。”
  • Pinyin: Zài hūnlǐ shàng, xīnláng shuō: “Wǒ de xīnniáng, yěshì wǒ wéiyī de qīngméizhúmǎ.”
  • English: At the wedding, the groom said: “My bride is also my one and only childhood sweetheart.”
  • Analysis: A deeply romantic and touching usage of the term in a formal setting.

• Strictly Male-Female: This is the most important rule. `青梅竹马` is only used to describe a pair consisting of one male and one female. You cannot use it for two boys or two girls who grew up together. For same-sex childhood friends, you would use the more general term 发小 (fàxiǎo).
  • Incorrect: 他们两个男生是青梅竹马。 (Tāmen liǎng ge nánshēng shì qīngméizhúmǎ.)
  • Correct: 他们两个是发小。 (Tāmen liǎng ge shì fàxiǎo.)
• Friendship vs. Romance: Do not assume `青梅竹马` automatically means “boyfriend and girlfriend.” It describes the *origin* of the relationship, not necessarily its current status. The core meaning is “childhood playmates of the opposite sex.” The romantic connotation is very strong, but not absolute.

• 发小 (fàxiǎo) - A very common and colloquial term for a childhood friend, regardless of gender. It's the modern, casual equivalent of `青梅竹马` but without the gender or romantic specificity.
• 两小无猜 (liǎng xiǎo wú cāi) - “Two little ones without suspicion.” An idiom describing the complete innocence and purity of a friendship between young children. It's often used to describe the *feeling* of a `青梅竹马` relationship during childhood.
• 初恋 (chūliàn) - First love. A person's `青梅竹马` is often, but not always, their `初恋`.
• 缘分 (yuánfèn) - A concept similar to fate or destiny, especially in relationships. A `青梅竹马` relationship is often considered to be a result of deep `缘分`.
• 天生一对 (tiān shēng yī duì) - “A match made in heaven.” If a `青梅竹马` couple ends up together, they are often described with this idiom.
• 红颜知己 (hóngyán zhījǐ) - A “red-faced confidante”; a close, platonic female friend to a man, a soulmate. This describes a specific type of adult friendship.
• 郎才女貌 (láng cái nǚ mào) - “Talented man and beautiful woman.” An idiom describing a perfect couple based on their respective qualities.