# 海誓山盟

hǎi shì shān méng

Make solemn promises of lasting love

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Oaths by the sea and pledges by mountains

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe grand declarations of romantic devotion.

Promises alone do not demonstrate lasting commitment.

## Understanding the expression

Mountains and seas suggest immense scale and enduring presence. Swearing love by them makes a promise sound permanent and solemn. The expression belongs especially to romantic declarations and stories of passionate attachment. It may sound admiring, sentimental, or skeptical according to whether later actions support the words. A quiet relationship without grand vows can still be deeply committed; the phrase describes the form and intensity of promises, not their guaranteed truth.

## Examples

他们曾许下海誓山盟。

### Traditional Chinese

他們曾許下海誓山盟。

tā men céng xǔ xià hǎi shì shān méng 。

They once made solemn vows of everlasting love.

她更看重行动，不看重海誓山盟。

### Traditional Chinese

她更看重行動，不看重海誓山盟。

tā gèng kàn zhòng xíng dòng ， bú kàn zhòng hǎi shì shān méng 。

She values actions more than grand declarations of love.

信里写满了海誓山盟。

### Traditional Chinese

信裡寫滿了海誓山盟。

xìn lǐ xiě mǎn le hǎi shì shān méng 。

The letter was full of vows of eternal love.

昔日的海誓山盟终究落空了。

### Traditional Chinese

昔日的海誓山盟終究落空了。

xī rì de hǎi shì shān méng zhōng jiū luò kōng le 。

Their former promises of lasting love ultimately came to nothing.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%B5%B7%E8%AA%93%E5%B1%B1%E7%9B%9F)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=744&webMd=1&la=0)

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