海枯石烂
hǎi kū shí làn
until the seas run dry and the rocks crumble; for ever (in vows of love)
Character by character
海hǎi
sea
sea
枯kū
run dry
run dry
石shí
stone
stone
烂làn
crumble
crumble
Example
他们结婚那年许下海枯石烂的誓言，五十年后，两位老人依然手牵着手散步。
In the year they married they swore to love each other until the seas ran dry, and fifty years later the old couple still walk hand in hand.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
The language of lovers’ vows: 海枯石烂，永不变心 or 海枯石烂心不变. Sounds old-fashioned and grand, so in everyday talk it is often used with a smile or with irony: 说好的海枯石烂呢？
Learn this in Lesson 242 · HSK 9+: 《梁祝》小提琴协奏曲 (The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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