生离死别

shēng lí sǐ bié

partings in life and the final parting of death; heart-rending farewells

Character by character

生shēng
living

离lí
parting

死sǐ
death

别bié
separation

战争年代，多少家庭经历了生离死别。

In the war years countless families were torn apart, in life and by death.

Tone: neutral.

Heavy and serious: used of war, disaster and death, or of a farewell that may be the last. Calling a short trip a 生离死别 is only ever a joke.

Learn this in Lesson 253 · HSK 9+: 杨绛《我们仨》 (Yang Jiang’s We Three)

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.