爱不释手

ài bù shì shǒu

  • Meaning

    Literal

    To love [something] so much that you don't release your [grip]

    Usage

    To love something so much that you cannot part with it

  • Connotation

    Positive

  • Usage Examples

    小刚拿着新买的文具盒看了又看,爱不释手 | Xiǎo Gāng názhe xīn mǎi de wénjùhé kàn le yòu kàn, àibùshìshǒu
    Little Gang was unable to tear himself away from his new stationary box and gazed at it over and over
    [Source]

    这本书棒极了。我是爱不释手啊 | Zhè běn shū bàng jí le. Wǒ shì àibùshìshǒu a
    This book is amazing. I just can't put it down.
    [Source]

  • Equivalents

    English

    To be unable to put something down

    To be unable to tear oneself away

    Chinese

    爱不忍释 (ài bù rěn shì)

  • Entry Notes

    This is an HSK chengyu

  • Origin

    《陶渊明集序》(Táo Yuān Míng Jí Xù) by Liáng Dynasty (梁, 502-557) author 萧统 (Xiāo Tǒng)

  • Story

    During the Northern and Southern Dynasties (南北朝 | Nán Běi Cháo | 420 - 589), there lived a famous writer named 潇统 (Xiāo Tǒng). 潇统 often liked to read the works of 陶渊明 (Táo Yuán Míng), a Jìn Dynasty (晋, 265 - 420) government official who grew so tired of the games of politics that he resigned, went home to live as a farmer, and eventually took to writing poetry. 潇统 once commented of 陶渊明's works that he was "unable to put them down" (爱不释手).

  • Citations and Helpful Resources

    • 汉语成语小词典 (hànyǔ chéngyǔ xiǎo cídiǎn)
    • 现代汉语规范词典 (xiàndài hànyǔ guīfàn cídiǎn)
    • 多功能成语词典 (duō gōngnéng chéngyǔ cídiǎn)
    • 汉语大词典 (hànyǔ dà cídiǎn)
    • ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary
    • Pleco Basic Chinese-English Dictionary
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