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xíng 形 yǐng 影 bù 不 lí 离

形影不离 xíng yǐng bù lí

inseparable, like a body and its shadow

Literally: body shadow not separate

Intermediate 🤝 Friendship & family
🃏 Practise intermediate chengyu

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Origin

Descriptive; no single source story. Common in Qing fiction.

How to use it

Predicate or adverbial; positive. 两个人形影不离.

Example sentences

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  1. 他们俩从小就是好朋友，整天形影不离。
    Tāmen liǎ cóngxiǎo jiù shì hǎo péngyou, zhěng tiān xíng yǐng bù lí.
    The two of them have been good friends since childhood and are inseparable all day.
    they two since childhood then is good friend, whole day body shadow not separate
  2. 这只小狗和主人形影不离，去哪儿都跟着。
    Zhè zhī xiǎo gǒu hé zhǔrén xíng yǐng bù lí, qù nǎr dōu gēn zhe.
    This puppy is inseparable from its owner and follows him everywhere.
    this (measure) small dog and owner body shadow not separate, go where all follow (particle)

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