secret, unrequited love
A rare, poetic expression for one-sided love, likening it to an abalone shell that clings to a rock alone. The shorter form 鮑の片思い is more common.
See also: 鮑の片思い
The old phrase 鮑の貝の片思い is an expression that likens unrequited love to an abalone shell.
A shorter, more common variant of the same expression, also meaning unrequited love.
The phrase derives from the image of an abalone (鮑) clinging to a rock with only one shell, symbolizing a love that is not returned. The exact historical origin is uncertain.