james toma (chinesefashion) wrote, @ 2012-06-13 16:14:00

Only One Side is Willing
When you love someone, but the one you love doesn't love you. How do you describe the situation in learning Chinese?

In English, people say only one side is willing. Open your Chinese lessons, you may find it is 一厢情愿。

In learning Chinese, the story may go like the following:

Many years ago, a farmer happened to notice the King's daughter in the capital and he lost his heart to her at first sight. After returning, he missed the princess day and night. Soon, he was ill. His friends and relatives came to see him. When they knew the reason why the farmer was ill, they thought it was quite difficult to help him, for the King would never consent to his daughter marrying a poor man. But the sick man sighed sadly: "If I can't get the princess, I will be dead."

His friends tried to persuade him, but after nothing worked they decided to play a trick. Some days later, they came to see the man again and told him they had asked the princess to marry him, but she rejected. They had not actually done this, but the foolish man believed. However, he did not give up, instead announcing: "If I visit the princess in person, she will say yes." If he did so, it is clear what the result would be.

Later, people used this phrase to describe the man who only considers his own aspirations, ignoring the objective situation and others' opinions.

For example: Only one side is willing, she will not agree to the idea to learn Chinese over China for 3 years.
http://www.echineselearning.com/

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