背井离乡 (bèi jǐng lí xiāng) — (idiom) to leave one's native place (especially against one's will); to be forced to leave one's hometown

Definition

Examples

• 他年轻时因为家里太穷，不得不背井离乡。
  Tā nián qīng shí yīn wèi jiā lǐ tài qióng, bù dé bú bèi jǐng lí xiāng.
  When he was young, he had to leave his hometown because his family was too poor.
• 很多人在战争期间背井离乡，流落到世界各地。
  Hěn duō rén zài zhàn zhēng qī jiān bèi jǐng lí xiāng, liú luò dào shì jiè gè dì.
  Many people left their homes during the war and ended up scattered around the world.
• 这部小说讲述了一个背井离乡的故事，十分感人。
  Zhè bù xiǎo shuō jiǎng shù le yí gè bèi jǐng lí xiāng de gù shi, shí fēn gǎn rén.
  This novel tells a story of someone leaving his hometown, which is very touching.