若即若离

若即若離
ruòjí-ruòlí
idiom #66,713

Meanings

  1. 1 neither close nor distant
  2. 2 to keep someone at arm's length
  3. 3 lukewarm (of a relationship)

Examples

HSK 3
Tāmen de guānxì ruòjí-ruòlí.
Their relationship is neither close nor distant.
HSK 3
Liǎng jiā gōngsī bǎochí zhe ruòjí-ruòlí de hézuò guānxì.
The two companies maintain a cooperative but distant partnership.
HSK 6
Tā duì tā ruòjí-ruòlí, ràng rén zhuōmō bù tòu.
She keeps him at arm's length in a way that's hard to read.

Tips

usage
Most often describes interpersonal relationships (romantic or friendly) where one party deliberately maintains ambiguity. Can also describe diplomatic or business alliances.
memory
= 'seems,' = 'approach,' = 'depart.' 'Seems to approach, seems to leave' - a textbook definition of hot-and-cold.

Stroke Order

ruò