竟无语凝噎

竟無語凝噎
jìng wúyǔ níng yē
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 in the end wordless, choked up
  2. 2 Liu Yong's line from a parting ci - the lovers cannot speak, throats tight with weeping

Examples

HSK 7-9
Jīchǎng sòngbié shí, liǎng rén xiāngyōng, jìng wúyǔ níng yē.
At the airport farewell the two embraced, wordless and choked up.
HSK 7-9
Dú dào zhè duàn gùshì de jiéwěi, tā jìng wúyǔ níng yē.
Reading the end of the story, she was wordless, choked up.

Tips

history
From 《雨霖铃·寒蝉凄切》 by 柳永 (Liu Yong, Northern Song), a canonical parting ci: '执手相看泪眼,竟无语凝噎.' Pairs with 今宵酒醒何处?杨柳岸,晓风残月 later in the same ci - Liu Yong's signature heartbreak-in-a-harbor mood.
usage
= 'choke on something' (same character as in 因噎废食). Here 凝噎 = 'congealed sob / choked silence.'

Stroke Order

jìng
níng