to beat one's breast and weep tears of blood; inconsolable grief
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to beat one's chest and weep tears of blood; to be in extreme grief
literaryAn intense literary idiom describing profound, overwhelming sorrow, often due to loss or tragedy. It conveys a more dramatic and physical manifestation of grief than everyday sadness.
Tīng听
wén闻
ài爱
zǐ子
yāo夭
zhé折
，
tā她
chuí捶
xiōng胸
qì泣
xuè血
，
tòng痛
bù不
yù欲
shēng生
。
Upon hearing of her beloved son's untimely death, she beat her breast and wept tears of blood, wishing she were dead.
Chéng城
pò破
guó国
wáng亡
de的
è噩
hào耗
chuán传
lái来
，
jiàng将
shì士
men们
wú无
bù不
chuí捶
xiōng胸
qì泣
xuè血
。
When the terrible news of the fallen city and destroyed nation arrived, all the soldiers beat their breasts and wept in despair.
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Zhè这
wèi位
mǔ母
qīn亲
zài在
ér儿
zi子
de的
zàng葬
lǐ礼
shàng上
chuí捶
xiōng胸
qì泣
xuè血
de的
chǎng场
jǐng景
，
lìng令
rén人
xīn心
suì碎
。
The scene of the mother beating her breast and weeping blood at her son's funeral was heartbreaking.