擦肩而过...
Brush past...
Littéralement: Brush shoulders and pass by
Use this to describe narrowly missing a person, an opportunity, or even a physical accident with poetic flair.
En 15 secondes
- Missing someone or something by a very narrow margin.
- A poetic way to describe a 'close call' or missed connection.
- Implies being in the same place at the same time.
Signification
It describes the moment two people or things almost meet but narrowly miss each other. It captures that bittersweet feeling of a missed connection or a close call.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Missing a friend at the airport
我们在机场擦肩而过，竟然没看到对方！
We brushed past each other at the airport and didn't even see one another!
Narrowly missing a promotion
由于一点小失误，他与升职的机会擦肩而过。
Due to a small mistake, he narrowly missed the chance for a promotion.
Avoiding a car accident
好险！那辆车和我擦肩而过。
That was close! That car just brushed past me.
Contexte culturel
The phrase is deeply rooted in the Buddhist-influenced concept of 'Yuanfen.' It suggests that every encounter, no matter how brief, is the result of karma from past lives. It became a staple in Mandopop lyrics and romantic cinema to describe tragic or missed love.
The 'Almost' Rule
Use this only when the distance was tiny. If you missed a flight because you stayed home, you didn't 'brush past' it.
Don't over-dramatize
While poetic, using it for every single thing (like missing a piece of broccoli with your chopsticks) might sound a bit too theatrical.
En 15 secondes
- Missing someone or something by a very narrow margin.
- A poetic way to describe a 'close call' or missed connection.
- Implies being in the same place at the same time.
What It Means
Imagine walking down a busy street in Shanghai. Your shoulder lightly touches a stranger's as you walk past. That is 擦肩而过. It is about being inches away from someone or something. It often implies a missed opportunity. You were in the same space at the same time. Yet, you never truly connected. It is poetic, slightly cinematic, and very common.
How To Use It
You can use it for people you almost met. You can also use it for things like goals or accidents. Use it like a verb or a descriptive phrase. For example, 我和机会擦肩而过. This means "I narrowly missed the opportunity." It usually follows a subject and often involves a specific target. It sounds natural in both speech and writing.
When To Use It
Use it when you just missed the bus by a second. Use it when you find out a friend was at the same mall. It is perfect for telling dramatic stories. It works well when discussing 'what if' scenarios. Use it to add a touch of fate to your conversation. It makes your stories feel more like a movie script.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for a total miss. If you were miles away, it does not count. It requires physical or temporal proximity. Do not use it for intentional ignoring. If you saw them and walked away, that is different. This phrase implies a sense of chance or destiny. Avoid using it for very mundane, non-moving objects. You do not 擦肩而过 with a stationary lamp.
Cultural Background
Chinese culture loves the concept of 缘分 (yúan fèn) or 'predestined affinity.' This phrase is the physical manifestation of that. It suggests that even a brief brush of shoulders is a tiny spark of fate. There is a famous saying that it takes 500 years of looking back in past lives just to brush shoulders in this one. It turns a simple miss into something deeply spiritual.
Common Variations
You might hear 失之交臂. That is much more formal and literary. 擦肩而过 is the cool, modern sibling. Sometimes people just say 擦过了 in very fast, casual slang. But the full four-character version is the most satisfying to say. It has a rhythmic balance that sounds great in any conversation.
Notes d'usage
This phrase is highly versatile. It sits in the 'sweet spot' of being sophisticated enough for writing but common enough for daily gossip. Just remember: it requires movement from at least one party.
The 'Almost' Rule
Use this only when the distance was tiny. If you missed a flight because you stayed home, you didn't 'brush past' it.
Don't over-dramatize
While poetic, using it for every single thing (like missing a piece of broccoli with your chopsticks) might sound a bit too theatrical.
The 500-Year Secret
If you use this with a Chinese friend, mention 'Yuanfen.' They will be impressed that you know the spiritual weight behind a simple 'missed you!'
Exemples
6我们在机场擦肩而过，竟然没看到对方！
We brushed past each other at the airport and didn't even see one another!
Highlights the physical proximity of the miss.
由于一点小失误，他与升职的机会擦肩而过。
Due to a small mistake, he narrowly missed the chance for a promotion.
Used here for an abstract opportunity rather than a person.
好险！那辆车和我擦肩而过。
That was close! That car just brushed past me.
Used to describe a literal close call with danger.
我刚才竟然和偶像擦肩而过，心碎了！
I just brushed past my idol and didn't realize it, I'm heartbroken!
Commonly used in social media posts to express regret.
男女主角在雨中擦肩而过，谁也没认出谁。
The leads brushed past each other in the rain, neither recognizing the other.
Classic cinematic usage of the phrase.
我们与冠军奖杯擦肩而过，非常可惜。
We narrowly missed the championship trophy; it's a great pity.
Appropriate for formal sports commentary or business reviews.
Teste-toi
Choose the best phrase to describe missing a train by one second.
我跑到站台时，火车刚好开走，我和它___。
Since you were at the platform and the train was right there, you 'brushed past' the opportunity to board.
Complete the sentence about a missed connection.
虽然住在同一栋楼，但我们总是___，从来没打过招呼。
This describes the common urban experience of passing neighbors without interacting.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality Spectrum of 擦肩而过
Texting a friend about missing a bus.
又和公交车擦肩而过了。
Standard storytelling or daily conversation.
我和他在街上擦肩而过。
News reports or literary descriptions.
该国与和平协议擦肩而过。
When to say 'Brushed Past'
Missed Romance
Passing a crush in the hall
Close Call
Narrowly avoiding a bike collision
Missed Prize
Losing a race by 0.1 seconds
Urban Life
Passing strangers in a subway
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNot really. It is better for physical objects or opportunities that were 'right there.' For a deadline, use 错过截止日期.
No, it is very common for opportunities (机会) or prizes (奖杯). It can also be used for physical dangers like cars.
Not at all! It is quite common in texts to express a 'close call' or regret about missing someone.
错过 is a general 'to miss.' 擦肩而过 is much more specific about how close you were.
Yes! The 'brushing' part can be literal or metaphorical. It emphasizes the proximity.
The phrase itself is neutral, but the context usually implies regret or relief (if avoiding an accident).
You can say 我们擦肩而过了. It is the perfect way to describe that situation.
Yes, it follows the four-character structure of a Chinese idiom (Chengyu) and is widely recognized.
Yes! 和公交车擦肩而过 is a very common way to say you just missed it as it pulled away.
Usually the opposite. It often implies a missed chance that may never come back, highlighting the 'what if' feeling.
Expressions liées
错过
To miss (an opportunity, a train, a person).
失之交臂
To lose an opportunity narrowly (more formal).
缘分
Predestined relationship or fate.
近在咫尺
Right before one's eyes; very close.
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