我爱你, 爱着你
(Wǒ ài nǐ, àizhe nǐ)
I love you, I love you

就像老鼠爱大米
( Jiù xiàng lǎoshǔ ài dàmǐ)
Like a mouse loves rice

Today I came across this phrase in a Chinese song, I reflected on how cultural differences shape our associations and expressions. In Western culture (or at least in most cases), we imagine the mouse loving cheese, while in Chinese culture, this connection is made with rice. Both metaphors, although different, aim to express the same thing: a deep, inevitable, and natural love. This contrast reminds me that exploring other languages and cultures not only enriches our knowledge but also offers new perspectives to better understand ourselves as humans.