心领神会 xīn lǐng shén huì tacit understanding

Explanation

指对方没有明说，心里已经领会。

It means that one understands something without it being explicitly stated.

Origin Story

老张和老李是多年的好友，两人之间总是无需多言，一个眼神就能明白对方的心思。一次，老张想请老李帮忙照顾他家里的宠物，但碍于面子，不好意思直接开口。于是，他只是意味深长地看了老李一眼，并递给他一张写有宠物医院地址的纸条。老李立刻心领神会，欣然答应了老张的请求，并细心地照顾着老张家的宠物，直到老张回来。两人之间默契十足，无需解释，便能彼此理解和支持。

lǎo zhāng hé lǎo lǐ shì duō nián de hǎoyǒu, liǎng rén zhī jiān zǒng shì wú xū duō yán, yīgè yǎnshén jiù néng míngbái duìfāng de xīnsī. yī cì, lǎo zhāng xiǎng qǐng lǎo lǐ bāngmáng zhàogù tā jiā lǐ de chǒngwù, dàn ài yú miànzi, bù hǎo yìsi zhíjiē kāikǒu. yúshì, tā zhǐshì yìwèishēnzhǎng de kàn le lǎo lǐ yī yǎn, bìng dì gěi tā yī zhāng xiě yǒu chǒngwù yīyuàn dìzhǐ de zhǐtiáo. lǎo lǐ lìkè xīn lǐng shén huì, xīnrán dāyìng le lǎo zhāng de qǐngqiú, bìng xìxīn de zhàogù zhe lǎo zhāng jiā de chǒngwù, zhídào lǎo zhāng huí lái. liǎng rén zhī jiān mòqì shízú, wú xū jiěshì, biàn néng bǐcǐ lǐjiě hé zhīchí.

Lao Zhang and Lao Li were long-time friends who always understood each other without saying much. One look was enough to convey their thoughts. One day, Lao Zhang wanted to ask Lao Li to take care of his pet but was too proud to ask directly. So, he simply gave Lao Li a meaningful look and a note with the address of a pet hospital. Lao Li immediately understood and gladly agreed. He carefully looked after Lao Zhang's pet until Lao Zhang returned. Their understanding was so deep that no explanation was needed for them to understand and support each other.

Usage

用于形容人与人之间不用言语就能互相理解，多用于描写亲密朋友或知己之间的默契。

yòng yú xíngróng rén yǔ rén zhī jiān bù yòng yányǔ jiù néng hù xiāng lǐjiě, duō yòng yú miáoxiě qīnmì péngyǒu huò zhījǐ zhī jiān de mòqì.

Used to describe the tacit understanding between people without words, often used to describe the tacit understanding between close friends or confidants.

Examples

• 两人心领神会，无需多言。

  liǎng rén xīn lǐng shén huì, wú xū duō yán.

  The two understood each other without saying a word.

• 他虽然没说什么，但我心领神会了。

  tā suīrán méi shuō shénme, dàn wǒ xīn lǐng shén huì le.

  He didn't say anything, but I understood.

Related Idioms

• 心照不宣

• 心心相印

Opposite Idioms

• 一无所知

• 茫然不解