"A narrow strip of water" literally means a river as narrow as a belt, describing two places separated by only a stretch of water and very close in distance. It comes from "The History of the Southern Dynasties: Annals of Chen." When Emperor Wen of Sui wanted to attack Chen, he once said: "I am the parent of the people; how can I let a narrow strip of water stop me from saving them?" Here, "a narrow strip of water" refers to the Yangtze River, emphasizing how narrow it is and suggesting that a single body of water should not obstruct unification. Later, this idiom was mostly used to describe two countries or two places that are adjacent; although separated by water, they have convenient exchanges and close relations. It is commonly used in international relations, regional exchanges, and similar contexts, with a neutral-to-positive emotional tone, emphasizing geographical proximity and psychological closeness. In terms of cultural background, it reflects the ancient Chinese idea of "the world as one family" and is often used in diplomatic language to express the meaning of friendly neighboring countries. Its deeper meaning is that geographical distance should not become a barrier, but rather a bond for exchange.
📝 Example
1. China and Japan are neighbors separated by a narrow strip of water, and the two countries have a long history of cultural exchanges. (Describing the two countries as being separated by only a body of water, extremely close in distance.)
2. The two cities are separated by a narrow strip of water, and their economic cooperation is becoming increasingly close. (Describing the two places as facing each other across a river, with a close relationship.)