Zài guówài měiféng jiājié, tā zǒng yǒu qièqiè gùxiāng qíng.
Every festival spent abroad, he feels a 'keen, piercing longing for home.'
Tips
history
From 张九龄《西江夜行》 ('Night Journey on the Western River,' early Tang): 悠悠天宇旷，切切故乡情 (Far and wide the heavens stretch vast; keen and piercing, longing for home). The contrast of cosmic vastness against intimate homesickness is the couplet's power.
usage
Reading: 切 here = qiè (urgent/earnest), not qiē (to cut). The reduplication 切切 strengthens the urgency - 'intensely, earnestly.' Usually quoted with its partner line 悠悠天宇旷.
