inseparably; as close as a shadow and its form
Idiomatic expression emphasizing that two things or people are always together, like a shadow and its shape. Often used in literary or emotional contexts.
See also: 形影 (けいえい)
They are always together, as inseparable as a shadow and its form.
Hardship and success are inseparably linked, like a shadow and its form.
A set phrase derived from the image of a shadow (影) and its corresponding shape (形) being inseparable. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it is a natural metaphor in Japanese.