同床异梦
tóng chuáng yì mèng
to share a bed but dream different dreams; partners with different aims
Character by character
同tóng
same
same
床chuáng
bed
bed
异yì
different
different
梦mèng
dreams
dreams
Example
这两家公司表面上合作得很好，其实早已同床异梦。
On the surface the two companies work well together, but in fact each has long had its own agenda.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
First of a couple who are together in body but not in heart; very often, by extension, of business partners or political allies who distrust each other.
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.
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