go separate ways; part company
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to part ways; to go separate ways; to pursue different paths
formalOriginally referred to horses taking different roads (道，road; 镳，bit/bridle). Now a common metaphor for separation due to differing goals, ambitions, or directions in life, business, or relationships.
Dà大
xué学
bì毕
yè业
hòu后
，
tā他
men们
yīn因
lǐ理
xiǎng想
bù不
tóng同
ér而
fēn分
dào道
yáng扬
biāo镳
le了
。
After graduating from university, they parted ways because of their different ideals.
Hé合
zuò作
le了
shí十
nián年
hòu后
，
liǎng两
wèi位
chuàng创
shǐ始
rén人
zài在
gōng公
sī司
fā发
zhǎn展
zhàn战
lvè略
shàng上
chǎn产
shēng生
fēn分
qí歧
，
zuì最
zhōng终
fēn分
dào道
yáng扬
biāo镳
。
After collaborating for ten years, the two founders had disagreements on the company's development strategy and ultimately went their separate ways.
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Zhè这
duì对
xī昔
rì日
de的
hǎo好
yǒu友
rú如
jīn今
yǐ已
fēn分
dào道
yáng扬
biāo镳
，
yī一
gè个
cóng从
zhèng政
，
yī一
gè个
jīng经
shāng商
。
These former close friends have now parted ways, one entering politics and the other going into business.