# 两小无猜

liǎng xiǎo wú cāi

Share innocent childhood closeness

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Two little ones have no suspicion

**Traditional Chinese:** 兩小無猜

**Register:** Warm · literary

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

## When to use it

Describe trusting childhood companions, often a future couple.

Usually shared childhood, not simply two trusting adults.

## Understanding the expression

Two children playing together have little need for calculation or suspicion. The expression evokes that innocent companionship and the trust built through growing up together. It often appears when describing a couple whose relationship began in childhood, though the early friendship is the central image. It does not mean that all later difficulties disappear. Nostalgia for the childhood bond can be warm while the adult relationship still requires communication and mutual respect.

## Examples

他们从小两小无猜，如今成了夫妻。

### Traditional Chinese

他們從小兩小無猜，如今成了夫妻。

tā men cóng xiǎo liǎng xiǎo wú cāi ， rú jīn chéng le fū qī 。

They grew up as innocent companions and later married.

照片里两人两小无猜，一起放风筝。

### Traditional Chinese

照片裡兩人兩小無猜，一起放風箏。

zhào piàn lǐ liǎng rén liǎng xiǎo wú cāi ， yì qǐ fàng fēng zheng 。

The photo shows their carefree childhood companionship.

小说描写了两小无猜的童年。

### Traditional Chinese

小說描寫了兩小無猜的童年。

xiǎo shuō miáo xiě le liǎng xiǎo wú cāi de tóng nián 。

The novel depicts an innocent shared childhood.

多年后重逢，他们想起两小无猜的日子。

### Traditional Chinese

多年後重逢，他們想起兩小無猜的日子。

duō nián hòu chóng féng ， tā men xiǎng qǐ liǎng xiǎo wú cāi de rì zi 。

Reunited years later, they remembered their trusting childhood.

## 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=%E5%85%A9%E5%B0%8F%E7%84%A1%E7%8C%9C)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=566&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [两袖清风 liǎng xiù qīng fēng Be honest and free of corrupt gain ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/liang-xiu-qing-feng)

- [另眼相看 lìng yǎn xiāng kàn Regard someone differently, often more favorably ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ling-yan-xiang-kan)

- [流芳百世 liú fāng bǎi shì Leave a good reputation for generations ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/liu-fang-bai-shi)

- [流言蜚语 liú yán fēi yǔ Unfounded rumors and malicious gossip ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/liu-yan-fei-yu)

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