Proverb / Kotowaza
以心伝心
Understanding each other's thoughts and feelings perfectly without using any words.
Transmission from heart to heart
Quick Answer
Understanding each other's thoughts and feelings perfectly without using any words.
- Literal Image
- Transmission from heart to heart
- Closest Equivalent
- We are on the same wavelength.
- How to Use It
- It can be used to describe close friends, long-term partners, or colleagues who are so in sync that they can anticipate each other's thoughts or actions without being told.
Meaning
This expression describes a state where two people share a deep mental or emotional connection that makes verbal communication unnecessary. It implies that intentions and feelings are conveyed directly from one heart to another, allowing for perfect mutual understanding without relying on speech or writing.
Literal Image
Transmission from heart to heart
Equivalent Proverbs
We are on the same wavelength.
Suggests being in sync or thinking in the same way.
How to Use It
It can be used to describe close friends, long-term partners, or colleagues who are so in sync that they can anticipate each other's thoughts or actions without being told.
Tone
Carries a positive and harmonious tone, highlighting the depth and quality of a relationship.
Examples
彼とは長い付き合いなので、わざわざ口に出して言わなくても、以心伝心で相手の考えていることが分かる。
Since I've known him for a long time, we understand each other's thoughts through a heart-to-heart connection without having to say anything.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Consists of four kanji used as an idiomatic compound. While the individual kanji are simple, the four-character structure and spiritual nuances make it an intermediate-level idiom.
心
こころ / kokoro
heart, mind
伝
でん / den
transmit, convey
Usage Profile
Misread Risk
Ensure the context involves a mutual connection; it does not simply mean reading someone's mind or guessing their thoughts correctly by chance.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
Derived from the Zen sect of Buddhism. It stems from the teaching of 'furyumonji' (not relying on words or letters), which suggests that the ultimate essence of the Buddhist path cannot be captured in scriptures alone. Instead, it is transmitted directly from the teacher's heart to the disciple's heart.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.