一水之隔 separated by a river
Explanation
指隔着一条河，比喻双方距离很近，但由于水路交通不便而很少见面。
Refers to being separated by a river, metaphorically describing two parties being close in distance but rarely meeting due to inconvenient waterways.
Origin Story
很久以前，在长江边上住着两个村庄，一条宽阔的长江将它们隔开，人们称之为‘一水之隔’。这两个村庄的人民世代相传，彼此之间很少往来。虽然他们看得见彼此的房屋，也能听到彼此的歌声，但由于长江的阻隔，交通不便，想要见面就必须绕路很远，耗费大量的时间和精力。所以，即使近在咫尺，也如隔着千山万水。直到后来，桥梁修建完成，人们才能够方便地来往于两岸之间，打破了一水之隔的限制。
Long ago, on the banks of the Yangtze River, lived two villages separated by a wide river, referred to as "only a river apart." These villagers, generation after generation, rarely interacted. Although they could see each other's houses and hear each other's songs, the river made transportation inconvenient, requiring long detours. Thus, even though geographically close, they felt a great distance between them. Only after a bridge was built could people easily travel between the banks, breaking the barrier of the separating river.
Usage
用于描写因水路阻隔而很少往来接触的双方。
Used to describe two parties who rarely interact or come into contact due to a water barrier.
Examples
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两岸之间，一水之隔，联系却十分密切。
liǎng àn zhī jiān, yī shuǐ zhī gé, liánxì què shífēn mìqiè.
Separated by a river, the two banks maintain close ties.
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隔着一条小河，两家虽然一水之隔，却很少来往。
gézhe yī tiáo xiǎo hé, liǎng jiā suīrán yī shuǐ zhī gé, què hěn shǎo lái wǎng
Separated by a small river, the two families, although only a river apart, rarely interact.