素未谋面 sù wèi móu miàn Never met before

Explanation

素未谋面，指没有见过面。这个成语一般用于形容两个人之前没有见过面，但可能已经听说过对方，或者通过其他途径了解过对方。

Su wei mou mian means to have never met before. This idiom is generally used to describe two people who have never met before, but may have heard of each other or have learned about each other through other means.

Origin Story

在古代的中国，一个叫李明的书生，他从小就喜欢读书，在书中，他认识了许多英雄人物，也结识了许多朋友。一天，他听说远在江南有个叫王强的书生，也是一个喜欢读书的人，而且王强写的一手好文章。李明非常想认识王强，于是便动身前往江南。来到江南后，李明打听到王强住在城郊的一座小院里，李明欣喜若狂，赶紧赶往王强住处。可是，当他来到王强的小院，却被告知王强已经外出游历，要过几天才能回来。李明失望极了，他本来打算和王强见面，谈谈诗文，交流一下学习心得。可是现在王强不在家，李明只能等。他等了几天，王强终于回来了，李明高兴地走进了王强的书房。王强看到李明，也非常高兴，说：“我听说你是一位才华横溢的书生，今天终于有幸见到你了！”李明谦虚地说：“我和你素未谋面，只是久仰大名而已。”王强哈哈大笑，说：“说起来，我们还是同乡呢！”原来，李明和王强都是同一个地方的人，只是李明早年就离开家乡，所以两人素未谋面。两人相谈甚欢，从诗词歌赋谈到人生理想，彼此都感到相见恨晚。

gǔ dài zhōng guó, yǒu yī gè jiào lǐ míng de shū shēng, tā cóng xiǎo jiù xǐ huān dú shū, zài shū zhōng, tā rèn shí le xǔ duō yīng xióng rén wù, yě jié shí le xǔ duō péng you. yī tiān, tā tīng shuō yuǎn zài jiāng nán yǒu gè jiào wáng qiáng de shū shēng, yě shì yī gè xǐ huān dú shū de rén, ér qiě wáng qiáng xiě de yī shǒu hǎo wén zhāng. lǐ míng fēi cháng xiǎng rèn shí wáng qiáng, yú shì biàn dòng shēn qián wǎng jiāng nán. lái dào jiāng nán hòu, lǐ míng dǎ tīng dào wáng qiáng zhù zài chéng jiāo de yī zuò xiǎo yuàn lǐ, lǐ míng xīn xǐ ruò kuáng, gǎn jǐn gǎn wǎng wáng qiáng zhù chù. kě shì, dāng tā lái dào wáng qiáng de xiǎo yuàn, què bèi gào zhī wáng qiáng yǐ jīng wài chū yóu lì, yào guò jǐ tiān cái néng huí lái. lǐ míng shī wàng jí le, tā běn lái dǎ suàn hé wáng qiáng miàn jiàn, tán tán shī wén, jiāo liú yī xià xué xí xīn dé. kě shì xiàn zài wáng qiáng bù zài jiā, lǐ míng zhǐ néng děng. tā děng le jǐ tiān, wáng qiáng zhōng yú huí lái le, lǐ míng gāo xìng de zǒu jìn le wáng qiáng de shū fáng. wáng qiáng kàn dào lǐ míng, yě fēi cháng gāo xìng, shuō:

In ancient China, there was a scholar named Li Ming, who loved reading since he was a child. In books, he met many heroes and made many friends. One day, he heard that there was a scholar named Wang Qiang in the south of China, who also loved reading, and Wang Qiang was a good writer. Li Ming wanted to meet Wang Qiang very much, so he went to the south. When he arrived in the south, Li Ming learned that Wang Qiang lived in a small courtyard on the outskirts of the city. Li Ming was overjoyed and rushed to Wang Qiang's residence. However, when he arrived at Wang Qiang's courtyard, he was told that Wang Qiang had gone out on a trip and would not be back for a few days. Li Ming was very disappointed, he had originally planned to meet Wang Qiang, talk about poems and articles, and exchange learning experiences. But now Wang Qiang is not at home, Li Ming can only wait. He waited for a few days, and Wang Qiang finally came back, Li Ming happily walked into Wang Qiang's study. Wang Qiang saw Li Ming, was also very happy, and said, “I heard you are a talented scholar, today I am honored to finally meet you!” Li Ming modestly said: “I have never met you before, I just admire your reputation.” Wang Qiang laughed and said, “Speaking of which, we are from the same hometown!” It turned out that Li Ming and Wang Qiang were from the same place, but Li Ming left his hometown early, so the two had never met. The two talked very happily, from poetry and songs to life ideals, they both felt that they had met too late.

Usage

素未谋面常用于介绍两个之前没有见过面的人，但可能已经听说过对方，或者通过其他途径了解过对方。

sù wèi móu miàn cháng yòng yú jiè shào liǎng gè zhī qián méi yǒu jiàn guò miàn de rén, dàn kě néng yǐ jīng tīng shuō guò duì fāng, huò zhě tōng guò qí tā tú jìng liǎo jiě guò duì fāng.

Su wei mou mian is often used to introduce two people who have never met before, but may have heard of each other or have learned about each other through other means.

Examples

• 我和他素未谋面，却有一种似曾相识的感觉。

  wǒ hé tā sù wèi móu miàn, què yǒu yī zhǒng sì céng shí shí de gǎn jué.

  I've never met him before, but I have a feeling that I've seen him somewhere before.

• 这位大师素未谋面，却对我的作品赞赏有加。

  zhè wèi dà shī sù wèi móu miàn, què duì wǒ de zuò pǐn zàn shǎng yǒu jiā.

  I've never met this master before, but he praised my work highly.

• 他虽然素未谋面，但我却从朋友的口中得知他是一个正直善良的人。

  tā suī rán sù wèi móu miàn, dàn wǒ què cóng péng you de kǒu zhōng dé zhī tā shì yī gè zhèng zhí shàn liáng de rén.

  I've never met him before, but I've heard from friends that he's a kind and honest person.

Related Idioms

• 萍水相逢

• 一见如故

Opposite Idioms

• 相识已久

• 老相识