此物最相思

cǐ wù zuì xiāngsī

quotation

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

HSK 4

看到旧照片，想起此物最相思这句诗。

Kàndào jiù zhàopiàn, xiǎngqǐ cǐwùzuìxiāngsī zhè jù shī.

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

HSK 7-9

她送他一颗红豆，说此物最相思。

Tā sòng tā yī kē hóngdòu, shuō cǐwùzuìxiāngsī.

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

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