Em 15 segundos
- 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.
Significado
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.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 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.
Contexto cultural
The phrase is often used in song lyrics to evoke a sense of lost love.
Use with '与'
Always use '与' or '和' before the object.
Em 15 segundos
- 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.
Notas de uso
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.
Use with '与'
Always use '与' or '和' before the object.
Exemplos
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-se
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase.
我和那个机会______，真是太遗憾了。
The idiom is a fixed four-character structure.
🎉 Pontuação: /1
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
1 exercicios我和那个机会______，真是太遗憾了。
The idiom is a fixed four-character structure.
🎉 Pontuação: /1
Perguntas frequentes
1 perguntasYes, for abstract objects like opportunities.
Frases relacionadas
失之交臂
synonymMissed by an arm's length
