📖 Meaning
Refers to a promised date between lovers for a romantic rendezvous. The 'clouds and rain' (云雨) is a classical Chinese euphemism for intimate relations, combined with the notion of setting a date (期) and keeping one's word (信). It describes lovers arranging and expecting to keep secret trysts.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom comes from the Song dynasty poet Ouyang Xiu's ci poem '品令' (Pǐng Lìng). The poem's line laments a fickle lover who failed to honor promised romantic rendezvous. The phrase fuses the ancient euphemism 'clouds and rain' for physical intimacy with the concepts of making an appointment and keeping faith. Over the centuries it became a standard expression for a lovers' tryst agreement.
💡 Example Usage
他们早有云期雨信，如今却各自天涯，再难相见。
They had long arranged a romantic rendezvous, yet now they are worlds apart, unlikely to meet again.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 云期雨信
- Pinyin: yún qī yǔ xìn
- Literal Translation: cloud, appointment, rain, message
- Category: Lifestyle
- Characters: 4