一往情深
yī wǎng qíng shēn
deeply and steadfastly devoted (to a person, place or cause)
Character by character
一yī
once
once
往wǎng
going
going
情qíng
feeling
feeling
深shēn
deep
deep
Example
他对初恋一往情深，四十岁了还没有结婚。
He has stayed devoted to his first love and at forty is still not married.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Usually 对…一往情深. From the 《世说新语》: 谢安 said a man who sighed at every beautiful song 可谓一往有深情. Used of love, but also of a city, an art or a profession.
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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