黯然销魂

黯然銷魂
ànrán-xiāohún
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 heartbroken
  2. 2 overwhelmed with sorrow, especially at parting

Examples

HSK 2
Líbié de shíhou, tā ànrán-xiāohún, shénme yě méi shuō.
At the moment of parting she was heartbroken and said nothing at all.
HSK 7-9
Xiǎngqǐ nà duàn wǎngshì, tā bùjīn ànrán-xiāohún.
Thinking back on that part of his past, he could not help feeling heartbroken.

Tips

history
From 江淹's 别赋, which opens 黯然销魂者,唯别而已矣: 'what darkens the spirit and melts the soul is parting, and parting alone'.

In Pop Culture

黯然销魂掌 ànrán-xiāohún zhǎng
Sorrowful Soul-Melting Palm
The palm technique 杨过 creates in 金庸's 神雕侠侣 during the long years apart from his love; it is strongest when he is grieving.

Stroke Order

黯 àn
然 rán
销 xiāo
魂 hún