不离不弃
bù lí bù qì
to stand by someone through thick and thin
Character by character
不bù
not
not
离lí
leave
leave
不bù
not
not
弃qì
abandon
abandon
Example
丈夫瘫痪在床十年，她始终不离不弃。
Her husband has been paralysed and bedridden for ten years, and she has stood by him all along.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Of spouses, carers, friends and loyal fans: 对…不离不弃, 始终不离不弃, usually where leaving would have been easier. The words are engraved, as 不离不弃，芳龄永继, on 薛宝钗’s golden locket in chapter 8 of 红楼梦, and today they turn up in wedding vows.
Learn this in Lesson 161 · HSK 7–9: 忘了回家的路 (Forgetting the way home)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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