同床异梦 Sharing a bed, dreaming differently
Explanation
指表面上在一起,实际上目标、想法不同。比喻表面上合作,暗地里却各怀鬼胎。
Refers to a situation where people are together but have different goals or intentions. It's used to describe situations where people outwardly cooperate but secretly have different agendas.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期,有一对夫妻,丈夫名叫李郎,妻子名叫赵女。李郎是个勤奋的农夫,日出而作,日入而息,一心只想辛勤耕作,过着平静安稳的生活。然而赵女却是一个野心勃勃的女人,她梦想过上富裕奢华的生活,对田园生活充满厌倦。他们同床共枕,却怀揣着截然不同的梦想。李郎每天晚上都做着丰收的梦,梦见金灿灿的稻谷堆满仓库,梦见家人们欢声笑语,其乐融融。而赵女却梦想着绫罗绸缎,梦想着金银财宝,梦想着荣华富贵。他们表面上是一对恩爱的夫妻,实际上却同床异梦,各有各的盘算。李郎努力耕作,希望能够通过自己的努力改善生活,而赵女则暗中寻找各种机会,希望能找到捷径获得财富。这种隔阂,最终导致了他们的婚姻破裂。
In the Tang Dynasty, there was a couple. The husband, Li Lang, was a diligent farmer who worked hard from sunrise to sunset, dreaming of a peaceful life. His wife, Zhao Nu, however, was ambitious, yearning for wealth and luxury. Though they shared a bed, they held vastly different dreams. Li Lang dreamt of a bountiful harvest, of family joy and contentment. Zhao Nu, however, dreamt of silks and satins, of gold and jewels, of a life of extravagance. They appeared as a loving couple, yet, in reality, they were harboring separate ambitions. Li Lang toiled, hoping to improve their lives through hard work. Zhao Nu secretly sought opportunities for a quick route to riches. This growing rift eventually led to the breakdown of their marriage.
Usage
用于形容表面上合作,但实际上各怀鬼胎的情况。
Used to describe a situation where people outwardly cooperate but secretly have different agendas.
Examples
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虽然他们表面上合作无间,实际上却同床异梦。
suiran tamen biaomianshang hezuo wujian, shijishang que tongchuangyimeng.
Although they cooperated seamlessly on the surface, they were actually at odds.
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公司内部同床异梦,人心涣散,最终导致了企业的失败。
gongsi neibu tongchuangyimeng, renxin huansan, zhongyu daozhile qiye de shibai.
Discord within the company led to its ultimate failure.