哀而不伤 āi ér bù shāng

DEFINITIONS

  1. deeply felt but not mawkish (idiom)

CHARACTERS

哀 āi
HSK 6
sad, mournful, pitiful; pity
而 ér
HSK 3
and; and then; and yet; but
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
伤 shāng
HSK 4
wound, injury; fall ill from