Liǎng jiā gōngsī bǎochí zhe ruò jí ruò lí de hézuò guānxì.
The two companies maintain a cooperative but distant partnership.
Tips
usage
Most often describes interpersonal relationships (romantic or friendly) where one party deliberately maintains ambiguity. Can also describe diplomatic or business alliances.
memory
若 = 'seems,' 即 = 'approach,' 离 = 'depart.' 'Seems to approach, seems to leave' — a textbook definition of hot-and-cold.
