貌合神离
mào hé shén lí
together in appearance but apart at heart
Character by character
貌mào
looks
looks
合hé
together
together
神shén
spirit
spirit
离lí
apart
apart
Example
他们俩结婚十年，早就貌合神离了，只是为了孩子才没离婚。
They have been married ten years and have long been together only in name; they have stayed married just for the children.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
Said of a couple, partners or allies whose bond is hollow behind a show of unity: 早已貌合神离, 貌合神离的婚姻／联盟. Close to 同床异梦 (lesson 6-18), but 同床异梦 stresses different hidden aims, 貌合神离 the lack of real feeling.
Learn this in Lesson 152 · HSK 7–9: 离婚冷静期 (The divorce cooling-off period)
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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