恋恋不舍
liàn liàn bù shě
reluctant to part; loath to leave
Character by character
恋liàn
cling
cling
恋liàn
cling
cling
不bù
not
not
舍shě
let go
let go
Example
假期结束了，孩子们恋恋不舍地离开了爷爷奶奶家。
The holiday was over, and the children left their grandparents’ house with great reluctance.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Usually 恋恋不舍地 + a verb of leaving (离开, 告别, 回头看). Close to 依依不舍. 恋恋 goes back to the 《史记》: 范雎 spares 须贾 because his old gift of a padded silk robe (绨袍恋恋) showed an old friend’s lingering goodwill.
Learn this in Lesson 228 · HSK 9+: 明月与离别 (The moon and parting in classical poetry)
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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