余音绕梁
yú yīn rào liáng
(of singing or music) so beautiful that it lingers in the air
Character by character
余yú
lingering
lingering
音yīn
sound
sound
绕rào
circle
circle
梁liáng
beam
beam
Example
老艺术家唱完最后一句，余音绕梁，观众好半天才想起来鼓掌。
The old master sang the last line, the sound hung in the air, and it was a long moment before the audience remembered to applaud.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From the 列子: after the singer 韩娥 left, her song circled the roof beams for three days. Often in full: 余音绕梁，三日不绝. Used of voices and music, never of noise.
Learn this in Lesson 100 · HSK 6–7: 京剧 (Peking opera)
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