藕斷絲連

Chinese

		root of lotus	to break; to judge; absolutely to break; to judge; absolutely; decidedly	silk; thread; trace	even; as; to join even; as; to join; to link; successively
trad. (藕斷絲連)		藕	斷	絲	連
simp. (藕断丝连)		藕	断	丝	连
Literally: “the lotus root is broken, (but) threads (still) connect (the two pieces)”.

Etymology

The lotus root is a tuberous plant, with lots of threads. Therefore, when you break it, a number of threads will still be attached.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): ǒuduànsīlián

  (Zhuyin): ㄡˇ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄙ ㄌㄧㄢˊ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): ngau⁵ dyun⁶ si¹ lin⁴

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: ǒuduànsīlián
    • Zhuyin: ㄡˇ ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄙ ㄌㄧㄢˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: ǒuduànsihlián
    • Wade–Giles: ou³-tuan⁴-ssŭ¹-lien²
    • Yale: ǒu-dwàn-sz̄-lyán
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: oouduannsylian
    • Palladius: оудуаньсылянь (ouduanʹsyljanʹ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ˀoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵¹ sz̩⁵⁵ li̯ɛn³⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: ngau⁵ dyun⁶ si¹ lin⁴
    • Yale: ngáuh dyuhn sī lìhn
    • Cantonese Pinyin: ngau⁵ dyn⁶ si¹ lin⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: ngeo⁵ dün⁶ xi¹ lin⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ŋɐu̯¹³ tyːn²² siː⁵⁵ liːn²¹/

Idiom

藕斷絲連

1. the ties are severed, but not completely; to still have a thing for somebody; to still pine for somebody

Descendants

• → Bouyei: ngoujduanqsiylianf