难舍难分 (nán shě nán fēn) — loath to part from each other; inseparable emotional attachment when parting

Definition

A chengyu describing mutual reluctance to part — both sides find it painfully hard to say goodbye. Used for close friends, lovers, or family at farewells.

idiom
loath to part from each otherinseparable emotional attachment when parting

Examples

  • ，难舍难分，。
    Bì yè de shí hou, tóng xué men dōu nán shě nán fēn, hěn duō rén liú xià le yǎn lèi.
    At graduation, the classmates found it hard to part; many shed tears.
  • 难舍难分，。
    Tā men liǎ zài jī chǎng nán shě nán fēn dì gào bié, yuē dìng xià cì zài jiàn.
    The two said goodbye at the airport, reluctant to part, and agreed to meet next time.
  • ，难舍难分。
    Fēn bié de shí kè dào le, wǒ men nán shě nán fēn de chǎng miàn ràng rén gǎn dòng.
    The moment of separation came, and our scene of reluctance to part was touching.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

难舍hard to part
难nándifficult舍shèpart
偏正Modifier + head
难分hard to separate
难nándifficult分fēnseparate
偏正Modifier + head

难舍 and 难分 both say it is hard to let go or separate, giving an inseparable attachment.

Characters in this word

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 難; 难 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
隹隹zhuībird
Sound part声符shēngfú
暵
暵hàn難nán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional 難 pairs 隹, a bird, with 暵 for sound, and meant a type of bird. It was later borrowed for other meanings; the modern 难 is a shorthand.

Open 难 →

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú舍shè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

舍 is 余 plus 口. 余 was the original picture for this word, and 口 was later added to distinguish it.

Open 舍 →

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 難; 难 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
隹隹zhuībird
Sound part声符shēngfú
暵
暵hàn難nán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional 難 pairs 隹, a bird, with 暵 for sound, and meant a type of bird. It was later borrowed for other meanings; the modern 难 is a shorthand.

Open 难 →

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 →

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