若即若离
ruò jí ruò lí
keeping someone at arm’s length; neither close nor distant
Character by character
若ruò
as if
as if
即jí
near
near
若ruò
as if
as if
离lí
apart
apart
Example
他对她总是若即若离，让她猜不透他的心思。
He always kept her at arm’s length, so she could never tell what he was thinking.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Of relationships and attitudes: 若即若离的关系, 对某人若即若离. Often a complaint about someone who will not commit; it can also praise a style or a distance that is just right.
Learn this in Lesson 223 · HSK 9+: 张爱玲：红玫瑰与白玫瑰 (Eileen Chang: red rose, white rose)
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.
Open the lesson →