宛在水中央

wǎn zài shuǐ zhōngyāng

quotation

Meanings

1 as if she were in the middle of the water
2 (fig.) the beloved seems close yet unreachable, shimmering just out of grasp
3 (lit.) seemingly is at water's center

Characters

as if / seemingly

Examples

HSK 7-9

远远望去，那人影朦胧，宛在水中央。

Yuǎnyuǎn wàng qù, nà rényǐng ménglóng, wǎnzàishuǐzhōngyāng.

Gazing from afar, the figure was hazy, 'as if in the middle of the water.'

HSK 7-9

他追求理想多年，却总觉得理想宛在水中央，可望而不可即。

Tā zhuīqiú lǐxiǎng duōnián, què zǒng juéde lǐxiǎng wǎnzàishuǐzhōngyāng, kěwàng ér bùkě jí.

After years of chasing his ideal, he still feels it is 'as if in the middle of the water' - visible but unreachable.

Tips

history

From 《诗经·秦风·蒹葭》 (Shijing, 'Odes of Qin: The Reeds,' pre-Confucian, c. 600 BCE): 蒹葭苍苍，白露为霜。所谓伊人，在水一方。 (The reeds are lush, the white dew turns to frost. The one I seek is on the far side of the water.) One of the most famous poems in the Chinese canon; the archetypal image of unattainable longing.

usage

Reading: 宛 = wǎn ('as if / seemingly'), a classical adverb. The line is almost always quoted after 溯游从之. The 1988 pop song 《在水一方》 by Teresa Teng is a modern retelling of the same poem.

Stroke Order

宛 wǎn

在 zài

水 shuǐ

中 zhōng

央 yāng