CHENGYU
恋恋不舍(liàn liàn bù shě)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- neutral
- Source:
- 《史记·范雎蔡泽列传》
MEANING
- Literal
- clinging and unwilling to part
- Figurative meaning
- unwilling to part; lingering with reluctance
ORIGIN STORY
The Records of the Grand Historian tell of a man spared for "a robe and lingering friendship". The doubled 恋恋 — the heart that clings — plus the refusal to let go fixed the phrase for partings that ache.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“to part with a heavy heart”
EXAMPLES
假期结束了，他恋恋不舍地离开了家乡。Jiàqī jiéshù le, tā liàn liàn bù shě de líkāi le jiāxiāng.HSK6
The holiday over, he left his hometown with deep reluctance.
孩子们玩得恋恋不舍，不肯回家。Háizimen wán de liàn liàn bù shě, bù kěn huí jiā.HSK6
The children lingered at play, unwilling to go home.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: Note the reading: 舍 is shě (to part). It is about reluctance to leave a place, person, or thing.
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TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01