宿世冤家 — “A sworn enemy”

Q: What is the Chinese definition of 宿世冤家?

指有前世仇怨。形容积怨很深。也用作昵称

宿世冤家 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a sworn enemy”. Often implying a deep-seated grudge or rivalry originating from a past life. It can also be used affectionately to describe a couple or friends who frequently bicker but care deeply for each other. Literally, “Previous life enemy; past life foe”.

Frequency

宿世冤家 Pronunciation and Pinyin

宿世冤家 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
宿	sù	11	stay overnight, old, constellation
世	shì	5	world, generation, era
冤	yuān	10	be wronged or suffer injustice
家	jia	10	family home or expert

Example Sentence with 宿世冤家

他们俩从小到大总是吵吵闹闹，却又离不开彼此，旁人都说他们是宿世冤家。

From childhood, those two have always bickered, yet they can't live without each other; everyone says they are sworn enemies from a past life.

Origin and Story of 宿世冤家

Legend has it that Peng Ruli was a man of integrity and uprightness, serving as an attendant for a long time and highly esteemed by both the court and the public.

In his later years, he married a woman named Ms. Song, who possessed charm and grace, and he went to great lengths to please and obey her.

Later, he was assigned to a post in Jiujiang. While ill, he asked for a brush and wrote, "An enemy from a past life, five years as husband and wife; from now on, I shall beat this drum no more." He then cast aside the brush and passed away.