藕断丝连 ǒu duàn sī lián

broken up but still attached; hard to let go

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. lit. lotus roots may break, but the fiber remains joined (idiom); lovers part, but still long for one another

Characters

Character Meaning
藕 ǒu
root of lotus
断 duàn HSK 4
to cut off; to break; to snap
丝 sī HSK 5
silk; thread; trace
连 lián HSK 4
(used with 也yě, 都dōu etc) even; continuously