Sòngbié de zhàntái shàng, liǎng rén zhíshǒu xiāngkàn lèiyǎn, yíjùhuà yě shuō bu chūlái.
On the farewell platform, they held hands and looked at each other through tears, unable to speak.
Tips
history
From 柳永 (Northern Song) 《雨霖铃·寒蝉凄切》. The line continues: 执手相看泪眼，竟无语凝噎 - 'hand in hand, we gaze with tearful eyes, choked up with nothing to say.' One of the most famous parting poems in the ci tradition.
usage
Often paired with the next line 竟无语凝噎. 看 here is pronounced kàn in its standard modern reading, though classical recitation sometimes uses kān.
