颔首之交

頷首之交
hànshǒuzhījiāo
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 a nodding acquaintance
  2. 2 someone you only know well enough to nod to

Examples

HSK 3
Zài gōngsī lǐ, xǔduō tóngshì zhǐshì hànshǒuzhījiāo.
At the company, many colleagues are only nodding acquaintances.
HSK 5
Wǒ hé tā bùguò shì hànshǒuzhījiāo, bìngbù shúxī.
He and I are nothing more than nodding acquaintances; we're not close.

Tips

register
Literary phrase - 颔首 (hànshǒu, to nod) is a classical word for 'nod', much more formal than the everyday 点头 (diǎntóu). Use this in writing or thoughtful speech, not casual chat.
culture
Chinese has a graded vocabulary for friendship intensity: 莫逆之交 (sworn friends), 知己 (true confidant), 朋友 (friend), 熟人 (familiar person), 颔首之交 (nodding acquaintance), 点头之交 (the same in plainer style).

Stroke Order

hàn
shǒu
zhī
jiāo