<p>There is a bit of wordplay in 琴酒相壽. The tricky part is 壽, which sounds the same as 授 (to give). 琴 is an instrument. 酒 is alcohol. 相 here denotes 表示一方对另一方的动作(one applies an action upon another). Both 琴 and 酒 are used to toast one's birthday. </p>

<p>琴酒相授 literally means <em>to give 酒 and 琴</em>. By replacing 授 as 壽, it implies the purpose  why they give 琴 and 酒. It's because they want to celebrate their 壽(birthday).</p>

<p>So, 琴酒相壽, as a whole, roughly means <em>play 琴 and give 酒 to celebrate one's birthday</em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-22T01:41:40.623Z
it’s more odd to add the character “授” for explanation :(
水巷孑蠻
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-22T00:29:32.807Z
2019-10-22T00:29:32.807Z
dan
<p>the phrase "琴酒相壽" is very <strong>odd</strong>, imo.</p>

<p>"相" can only be interpreted as mutually (互相). in most scenarios, when there's only one host (the "birthday-er"), participants of the event would not have the same birthday as the host. so, even they play the "琴", and drunk, for celebrating the host's birthday, it's one way, not mutually.</p>

<p>only in the situations of </p>

<ul>
<li>twins, triplets, or whom were born on the same day</li>
<li>ceremony that people with the same age, "birth-year" ("同甲", or "同庚") celebrate together</li>
</ul>

<p>then, one of the twins, or one of the participants of the latter; he/she uses this phrase for celebrating others' birthday, it's valid and truthful.</p>

<p>otherwise, i would not recommend this one for celebrate someone's longevity.</p>

<p>edited.</p>

<p>considering several 4 characters idioms, with 1st, 2nd character as noun, 3rd one is "相":</p>

<ul>
<li>萍水相逢</li>
<li>名實相符</li>
<li>骨肉相連</li>
<li>首尾相應</li>
<li>鷸蚌相爭</li>
</ul>

<p>isn't it clear, the usage of "相" as mutually?</p>

<p>that the reason why i say "相壽" is odd.</p>

<p>anyway, have fun :)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-21T21:09:36.037Z
really, how do you interpret "相"?
水巷孑蠻
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-21T23:59:00.537Z
相 in the context should not be interpreted as 互相. It should be 表示一方对另一方的动作, as in 好言相劝.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-21T13:08:23.160Z
2019-10-22T12:18:26.713Z
2019-10-22T12:18:26.713Z
水巷孑蠻
<p>This Chinese phrase 琴酒相壽 occurs in some calligraphy given to a colleague.
What does this mean in English? 
I've tried basic Google searches and Google translator. I see other examples of the calligraphy but no explanation. </p>

<translation>
What does 琴酒相壽 mean?
# What does 琴酒相壽 mean?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-10-20)

This Chinese phrase 琴酒相壽 occurs in some calligraphy given to a colleague.
What does this mean in English?
I've tried basic Google searches and Google translator. I see other examples of the calligraphy but no explanation.

**Tags:** translation

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-10-22. Score: -1

There is a bit of wordplay in 琴酒相壽. The tricky part is 壽, which sounds the same as 授 (to give). 琴 is an instrument. 酒 is alcohol. 相 here denotes 表示一方对另一方的动作(one applies an action upon another). Both 琴 and 酒 are used to toast one's birthday.

琴酒相授 literally means *to give 酒 and 琴*. By replacing 授 as 壽, it implies the purpose why they give 琴 and 酒. It's because they want to celebrate their 壽(birthday).

So, 琴酒相壽, as a whole, roughly means *play 琴 and give 酒 to celebrate one's birthday*.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: it’s more odd to add the character “授” for explanation :(  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-10-21. Score: -3

the phrase "琴酒相壽" is very **odd**, imo.

"相" can only be interpreted as mutually (互相). in most scenarios, when there's only one host (the "birthday-er"), participants of the event would not have the same birthday as the host. so, even they play the "琴", and drunk, for celebrating the host's birthday, it's one way, not mutually.

only in the situations of

* twins, triplets, or whom were born on the same day
* ceremony that people with the same age, "birth-year" ("同甲", or "同庚") celebrate together

then, one of the twins, or one of the participants of the latter; he/she uses this phrase for celebrating others' birthday, it's valid and truthful.

otherwise, i would not recommend this one for celebrate someone's longevity.

edited.

considering several 4 characters idioms, with 1st, 2nd character as noun, 3rd one is "相":

* 萍水相逢
* 名實相符
* 骨肉相連
* 首尾相應
* 鷸蚌相爭

isn't it clear, the usage of "相" as mutually?

that the reason why i say "相壽" is odd.

anyway, have fun :)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: really, how do you interpret "相"?  
> **username_1**: 相 in the context should not be interpreted as 互相. It should be 表示一方对另一方的动作, as in 好言相劝.  

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