开枝散叶
kāi zhī sàn yè
to branch out and spread; (of a family) to multiply
Character by character
开kāi
open
open
枝zhī
branches
branches
散sàn
spread
spread
叶yè
leaves
leaves
Example
张家四代同堂，子孙开枝散叶，过年时一张桌子都坐不下。
The Zhangs have four generations under one roof, and with all the children and grandchildren they can’t fit round one table at New Year.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
First a wish for a family to have many descendants, still a common blessing at weddings, especially in the south. Now also used of firms, schools or species spreading to new places: 连锁店在全国开枝散叶.
Learn this in Lesson 166 · HSK 7–9: 麋鹿回家 (The Père David’s deer comes 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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