藕斷絲連 ǒu duàn sī lián

still tied after breakup; hard to cut ties

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
斷 duàn
to cut off; to break; to snap
絲 sī
silk; thread; trace
連 lián
(used with 也yě, 都dōu etc) even; continuously