恩断义绝

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: ēn duàn yì jué
• English Translation: To sever all ties of affection and duty (complete break-off)
• Idiom Composition: 「恩」（Affection, kindness, or grace, particularly the deep bond between family or spouses.）＋「断」（To cut off or break.）＋「义」（Moral duty, loyalty, or the principles of human relationship.）＋「绝」（To sever completely or terminate.）
• Meaning: To completely cut off all emotional bonds and moral obligations between people who were once very close, such as spouses, family members, or best friends. It signifies a permanent and irreparable end to a relationship.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「恩断义绝」 contains the following nuances:

• The Rupture of Deep Bonds: This phrase is not used for casual acquaintances. It specifically refers to the destruction of relationships where 恩 (ēn) and 义 (yì) exist, such as between spouses, blood relatives, or sworn brothers.
• Finality and Determination: It implies more than just a temporary argument; it suggests a firm will to never interact again and a situation that is beyond any hope of reconciliation.

3. Usage

「恩断义绝」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Divorce or marital separation: Used to dramatically describe the total end of a marriage due to betrayal or deep resentment.
  • Example:「自从发现丈夫背叛后，她便决定与他恩断义绝，搬出了那个家。」
    （Since discovering her husband's betrayal, she decided to sever all ties with him and moved out of that house.）
• Severing ties with family or friends: Used when a long-standing relationship is dissolved due to financial disputes or serious betrayal of trust.
  • Example:「为了争夺遗产，兄弟俩反目成仇，早已恩断义绝。」
    （To fight over the inheritance, the two brothers turned against each other and have long since broken off their relationship completely.）

Additional Examples:

1. 虽然我们曾经是最好的朋友，但经过这件事，只能恩断义绝了。
   （Although we were once best friends, after this incident, we have no choice but to sever our relationship.）
2. 他发誓要与那个出卖家族利益的人恩断义绝。
   （He swore to break off all relations with the person who sold out the family's interests.）
3. 那一巴掌打下去，两人多年的情分也就恩断义绝了。
   （With that one slap, the years of affection between the two was completely severed.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• In traditional Chinese ethics, human connections are anchored by two concepts: 恩 (ēn), the grace or affection received from others, and 义 (yì), the moral obligation to act rightly toward them. Severing both implies a total rejection of social and personal bonds.
• The phrase appears in Yuan Dynasty (元朝) plays such as Ma Danyang (马丹阳) and Ren Fengzi (任风子). Its roots can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (汉朝) poem Song of Resentment (怨歌行), which mentions 'affection being severed midway' (恩情中道绝).
• This is a heavy, dramatic expression. It is not used for minor arguments but for life-altering betrayals or final partings seen in literature, period dramas, and serious real-life conflicts.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 一刀两断 (yī dāo liǎng duàn): To make a clean break; literally to cut something in two with one stroke of a knife.
  • 分道扬镳 (fēn dào yáng biāo): To go separate ways; used when people part ways due to different goals or ideals.
  • 视同陌路 (shì tóng mò lù): To treat someone as a stranger.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 相依为命 (xiāng yī wéi mìng): To depend on each other for survival; an inseparable bond.link
  • 藕断丝连 (ǒu duàn sī lián): Still connected by threads; like a broken lotus root, it describes lingering affection or hidden ties despite a formal breakup.link
  • 形影不离 (xíng yǐng bù lí): To be inseparable, always together.link

6. Summary

The idiom 恩断义绝 (ēn duàn yì jué) describes the final, absolute termination of a deep relationship. In Chinese culture, relationships are built on 恩 (ēn), representing kindness and affection, and 义 (yì), representing duty and loyalty. When both are 'cut' (断) and 'severed' (绝), the connection is destroyed beyond repair.