依依不舍

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: yī yī bù shě
• English Translation: Reluctant to part, loath to leave, nostalgic
• Idiom Composition: 「依依」（Lingering, clinging, reluctant to part）＋「不」（Not）＋「舍」（To give up, to let go, to leave）
• Meaning: Describes a deep attachment or lingering reluctance towards a person, place, or thing one is parting with, making it difficult to leave.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「依依不舍」 contains the following nuances:

• Strong attachment: Indicates having deep affection and strong attachment to the object of parting.
• Pain of parting: Conveys the pain and sadness of parting.
• Lingering reluctance: Implies that there are still regrets or lingering feelings even after parting.
• Depth of emotion: Can also describe a deeply emotional and loyal character.

3. Usage

「依依不舍」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Parting scenes: Used in various parting scenes, such as parting with people, places, or things.
  • Example:「毕业典礼上，同学们依依不舍地互相道别。」
    （At the graduation ceremony, the students reluctantly said goodbye to each other.）
• Expression of emotion: Used to emphasize the feeling of reluctance to part.
  • Example:「他依依不舍地离开了这个他生活了十年的城市。」
    （He reluctantly left the city where he had lived for ten years.）
• Figurative expression: Can also be used figuratively to describe being reluctant to leave a certain state or habit.
  • Example:「他对过去的辉煌岁月依依不舍。」
    （He is reluctant to let go of his glorious past.）

Additional Examples:

1. 送别朋友时，她依依不舍地挥手告别。
   （When seeing off her friend, she reluctantly waved goodbye.）
2. 假期结束了，孩子们依依不舍地离开了游乐园。
   （The holidays ended, and the children reluctantly left the amusement park.）
3. 他依依不舍地卖掉了陪伴他多年的老房子。
   （He reluctantly sold his old house, which had been with him for many years.）
4. 小狗依依不舍地望着主人离去的背影。
   （The puppy reluctantly watched its owner's departing back.）
5. 虽然项目已经结束，但他对团队成员们还是依依不舍。
   （Although the project has ended, he is still reluctant to part with his team members.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Culture that values parting: In Chinese culture, relationships and emotions are highly valued, and parting is considered an important event. '依依不舍' reflects this cultural background.
• Poetic expression: '依依' originally describes the swaying of willow branches in the wind, evoking a poetic scene. Therefore, '依依不舍' is used not just as a word for parting, but to express deeper emotions.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 恋恋不舍 (liàn liàn bù shě): To be reluctant to part, to linger with reluctance.
  • 难舍难分 (nán shě nán fēn): Deeply attached and reluctant to part.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 一刀两断 (yì dāo liǎng duàn): To make a clean break, to sever ties completely.
  • 挥之即去 (huī zhī jí qù): To leave without reluctance, to depart quickly.

6. Summary

'依依不舍' is a phrase that expresses not only reluctance to part but also the deep affection, lingering feelings, and profound emotions behind it. Understanding Chinese culture and values will help you use this idiom appropriately in context.