<p>I have observed (at least 30-40 times) that the term &quot;raw cookie rice&quot; or &quot;raw uncooked rice?&quot; may refer to unconsummated marriage or a relationship that is still developing. This is just an observation through watching countless Chinese movies spoken in Mandarin. Though I am multi lingual, I am no expert nor am I proficient in East Asian languages. Hope this helps.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-09-06T05:03:36.127Z
Thanks! Marriage is like rice, a strange metaphor! Maybe that's why we throw rice at the ceremony?
Pedroski
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-09-06T02:11:22.737Z
2024-09-06T02:11:22.737Z
Hetty Chaff
<p>There is an expression "米已成炊" (rice is cooked) It describes "既成事實" (a realized fact) </p>

<p>When raw rice is cooked, it cannot be changed back to raw again. Old Chinese thinking considered marriage is permanent, must be treated with caution. If a man and a woman get married, it is like raw rice boiled to be cooked rice--  It is permanent, cannot be undone. The only option is to eat it, meaning accept it</p>

<p>This quote is not the same as the original Chinese one, just borrowed the concept of "marriage is like cooked rice"</p>

<p>In the past, if a man and a woman had sex, they had no choice but to get marry. "米已成炊" can also describe this fact.</p>

<p>The quote from your link said: "一個美好的婚姻是用冷水準備並輕輕煮沸的米飯" (a beautiful marriage is like rice cooked from cold water and slowly boiled) implies "to ensure the marriage is a happy one, you should take time to prepare and not rush to commit." </p>

<p>The Cantonese version is "生米煮成熟飯" (raw rice cooked to become cooked-rice)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-08T06:45:41.993Z
Thanks! That German webpage seems like sentimental nonsense to me. I'm just not romantic!
Pedroski
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-09-07T12:26:35.650Z
I think "米已成炊" is a derogatory term
KaiserKatze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-08T01:23:37.743Z
2019-09-08T04:47:31.697Z
2019-09-08T04:47:31.697Z
Tang Ho
<p>This was a question <a href="https://dict.leo.org/forum/viewUnsolvedquery.php?idThread=1407818&amp;idForum=47&amp;lp=chde&amp;lang=de" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> which has a link to <a href="https://www.g-buschbacher.de/Lyrik/chin_weisheiten/Liebe_Inhalt.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> "Chinesische Weisheiten" = Chinese wisdom. </p>

<p>I don't really believe there is such a saying. I think it is "Quatsch", which is German for "rubbish, nonsense", but I'd like to ask you.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Eine gute Ehe ist ein Reisgericht, das man mit kaltem Wasser ansetzt
  und behutsam zum Kochen bringt.</p>
  
  <p>A good marriage is like a rice dish, one should begin with cold water
  and slowly bring it to the boil.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Anybody know a saying like this??</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-09-06T03:37:09.950Z
It has been argued that traditional arranged marriages where the couple meet for the first time only at the marriage ceremony has good chances of been a longer lasting one. The reason given is that the couple falls in love after the marriage and thus would stay fresh longer, whereas in love marriages where the couple falls in love, sometimes for years, even living together, before the actual marriage may fail as by the time the marriage comes the love may have gone stale. Just an argument, no supporting statistics.
Wayne Cheah
<chengyu>
Anyone heard a saying about marriage being like cooking rice?
# Anyone heard a saying about marriage being like cooking rice?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-09-07)

This was a question [here](https://dict.leo.org/forum/viewUnsolvedquery.php?idThread=1407818&idForum=47&lp=chde&lang=de) which has a link to [here](https://www.g-buschbacher.de/Lyrik/chin_weisheiten/Liebe_Inhalt.htm) "Chinesische Weisheiten" = Chinese wisdom.

I don't really believe there is such a saying. I think it is "Quatsch", which is German for "rubbish, nonsense", but I'd like to ask you.

> Eine gute Ehe ist ein Reisgericht, das man mit kaltem Wasser ansetzt
> und behutsam zum Kochen bringt.
>
> A good marriage is like a rice dish, one should begin with cold water
> and slowly bring it to the boil.

Anybody know a saying like this??

**Tags:** chengyu

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It has been argued that traditional arranged marriages where the couple meet for the first time only at the marriage ceremony has good chances of been a longer lasting one. The reason given is that the couple falls in love after the marriage and thus would stay fresh longer, whereas in love marriages where the couple falls in love, sometimes for years, even living together, before the actual marriage may fail as by the time the marriage comes the love may have gone stale. Just an argument, no supporting statistics.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-09-08. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

There is an expression "米已成炊" (rice is cooked) It describes "既成事實" (a realized fact)

When raw rice is cooked, it cannot be changed back to raw again. Old Chinese thinking considered marriage is permanent, must be treated with caution. If a man and a woman get married, it is like raw rice boiled to be cooked rice-- It is permanent, cannot be undone. The only option is to eat it, meaning accept it

This quote is not the same as the original Chinese one, just borrowed the concept of "marriage is like cooked rice"

In the past, if a man and a woman had sex, they had no choice but to get marry. "米已成炊" can also describe this fact.

The quote from your link said: "一個美好的婚姻是用冷水準備並輕輕煮沸的米飯" (a beautiful marriage is like rice cooked from cold water and slowly boiled) implies "to ensure the marriage is a happy one, you should take time to prepare and not rush to commit."

The Cantonese version is "生米煮成熟飯" (raw rice cooked to become cooked-rice)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks! That German webpage seems like sentimental nonsense to me. I'm just not romantic!  
> **username_4**: I think "米已成炊" is a derogatory term  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2024-09-06. Score: 1

I have observed (at least 30-40 times) that the term "raw cookie rice" or "raw uncooked rice?" may refer to unconsummated marriage or a relationship that is still developing. This is just an observation through watching countless Chinese movies spoken in Mandarin. Though I am multi lingual, I am no expert nor am I proficient in East Asian languages. Hope this helps.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks! Marriage is like rice, a strange metaphor! Maybe that's why we throw rice at the ceremony?  

---

