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tóng 同 chuáng 床 yì 异 mèng 梦

同床异梦 tóng chuáng yì mèng

to share a bed but dream different dreams; partners with divergent aims

Literally: same bed different dreams

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Origin

From a letter by the Song scholar Chen Liang to Zhu Xi, 同床各做梦, later fixed in this form.

How to use it

Predicate or attributive; negative. Often 夫妻/盟友同床异梦.

Example sentences

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  1. 这对夫妻早已同床异梦，只是为了孩子才没有离婚。
    Zhè duì fūqī zǎoyǐ tóng chuáng yì mèng, zhǐshì wèile háizi cái méiyǒu líhūn.
    This couple have long been strangers with different dreams; they only stay married for the children.
    this pair husband-wife long-ago same bed different dreams, only for children only-then not-have divorce
  2. 两家公司虽然签了合作协议，实际上却同床异梦。
    Liǎng jiā gōngsī suīrán qiān le hézuò xiéyì, shíjì shàng què tóng chuáng yì mèng.
    Although the two companies signed a cooperation agreement, in reality they are pursuing different goals.
    two (measure) companies although sign (particle) cooperation agreement, in-fact however same bed different dreams

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