潸然泪下 (shān rán lèi xià) — tears trickle down the cheeks (idiom); to be mo…

Definition

Literary idiom for tears flowing down (often from being deeply moved). Far more formal and written than everyday 流眼泪 or 哭了.

idiom

tears trickle down the cheeks (idiom)to be moved to tears

，潸然泪下。
Tīng dào zhè ge gǎn rén de gù shi, tā bù jīn shān rán lèi xià.
Hearing this touching story, she couldn't help but shed tears.
，潸然泪下。
Diàn yǐng jié wěi shí, xǔ duō guān zhòng dōu shān rán lèi xià.
At the end of the movie, many audience members were moved to tears.
，潸然泪下，。
Tā zhàn zài liè shì mù qián, shān rán lèi xià, jiǔ jiǔ bú yuàn lí qù.
He stood before the martyr's grave, tears streaming down his face, unwilling to leave for a long time.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

肰

肰rán然rán

Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

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 淚; 泪 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

戾

戾lì淚lèi

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 淚 uses 水 (water) and 戾 for sound; this describes 淚, not 泪.

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.