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分道扬镳 (fēn dào yáng biāo) — to part ways; to diverge; to go separate ways (set phrase)

Definition

An idiom meaning to go separate ways after a split in goals or views — usually between former partners or close associates, not a casual parting. The tone is final and dignified, like 'to part company for good'.

idiom
to part waysto divergeto go separate ways (set phrase)

Examples

  • 分道扬镳。
    Tā men zài shì yè shàng zuì zhōng fēn dào yáng biāo le.
    They eventually parted ways in their careers.
  • ，分道扬镳。
    Yóu yú yì jiàn bù hé, liǎng rén fēn dào yáng biāo.
    Due to differing opinions, the two parted ways.
  • 分道扬镳，。
    Wǒ men suī rán fēn dào yáng biāo, dàn yī rán shì péng you.
    Although we have gone our separate ways, we are still friends.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

分道split the road
分fēnsplit道dàoroad
动宾Verb + object
扬镳lift the bit
扬yánglift镳biāobit
动宾Verb + object

分道 pictures splitting the road, and 扬镳 pictures lifting the bit, giving the sense of going separate ways.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

分 pairs 八 (to separate) with 刀 (knife), showing something cut apart with a knife.

Open 分 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
行行xíngstreet
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𩠐
首shǒu道dào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Open 道 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 揚; 扬 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
昜
昜yáng揚
Same sound today

The traditional form 揚 uses 手 to show a hand-related action and 昜 to give the sound; the simplified 扬 is a later abbreviation.

Open 扬 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 镳 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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