海枯石烂

海枯石爛

hǎikū-shílàn

idiom #41,411

Meanings

1 until the seas dry up and stones crumble
2 forever and ever
3 eternal (especially of love or vows)

Characters

Examples

HSK 3

海枯石烂，我对你的心永远不变。

Hǎikū-shílàn, wǒ duì nǐ de xīn yǒngyuǎn bú biàn.

Though seas dry and stones crumble, my heart for you will never change.

HSK 7-9

他们发誓海枯石烂，永不分离。

Tāmen fāshì hǎikū-shílàn, yǒngbù fēnlí.

They vowed to stay together until the seas dry and stones crumble.

Tips

usage

Nearly always used in romantic vows or oaths of eternal loyalty. Often paired with 不变 or 永不分离. In 《三国演义》 ch. 47 it appears as refusal to surrender: 汝要说我降，除非海枯石烂.

Stroke Order

海 hǎi

枯 kū

石 shí

烂 làn