扼腕叹息

扼腕嘆息

èwǎn-tànxī

idiom

Meanings

1 to wring one's hands and sigh
2 to sigh with deep regret or indignation
3 to lament bitterly

Characters

to grip; to clutch

Examples

HSK 7-9

听到他英年早逝的消息，大家无不扼腕叹息。

Tīngdào tā yīngniánzǎoshì de xiāoxi, dàjiā wúbù èwǎn-tànxī.

On hearing of his untimely death, everyone sighed in deep grief.

HSK 7-9

球迷们为那个错失的进球扼腕叹息。

Qiúmí men wèi nàge cuòshī de jìnqiú èwǎn-tànxī.

Fans wrung their hands and sighed over the missed goal.

HSK 7-9

谈起这段历史，老人扼腕叹息。

Tánqǐ zhè duàn lìshǐ, lǎorén èwǎn-tànxī.

Speaking of that chapter of history, the old man sighed with bitter regret.

Tips

history

From the Jin-dynasty historian Wang Yin's 《晋书·刘锟传》: 臣所以泣血宵吟扼腕长叹者也 - this is why your servant weeps blood, chants through the night, and wrings his wrist with long sighs. 扼腕 (to grip one's own wrist) is a classical gesture of helpless indignation.

register

Literary register. Fits reports, eulogies, and sports commentary about missed opportunities or tragic outcomes - stronger and more formal than 可惜 or 遗憾.

Stroke Order

扼 è

腕 wàn

叹 tàn

息 xī