此物最相思

cǐwùzuìxiāngsī

phrase

Meanings

1 this thing most stirs longing / nothing arouses lovesickness like this
2 (fig.) token of remembrance — often given or referenced when expressing missing someone
3 (lit.) this object most (causes) mutual-longing

Characters

to think of / long for (相思 = lovesickness)

Examples

她送他一颗红豆，说此物最相思。

Tā sòng tā yī kē hóngdòu, shuō cǐ wù zuì xiāngsī.

She gave him a single red bean, saying 'this thing most stirs longing.'

看到旧照片，想起此物最相思这句诗。

Kàndào jiù zhàopiàn, xiǎngqǐ cǐ wù zuì xiāngsī zhè jù shī.

Seeing the old photo, the line 'this thing most stirs longing' came to mind.

Tips

history

Closing line of 王维《相思》 (Wang Wei, Tang, c. 8th c.): 红豆生南国，春来发几枝。愿君多采撷，此物最相思 (Red beans grow in the southern land; come spring, how many branches bud? I wish you'd gather many — this thing most stirs longing). The 红豆 (red bean / 'love pea,' Abrus precatorius) has ever since been Chinese poetry's emblem of lovesickness and friendship-at-a-distance.

usage

Nearly always quoted with the preceding line 愿君多采撷. 相思 here = the mutual longing of absent friends or lovers; it is the name of the poem and the emotional payload of the final character.

Stroke Order

此 cǐ

物 wù

最 zuì

相 xiāng

思 sī