qǔzhōngrénsàn

曲终人散

Word · IdiomTraditional曲終人散

when the music ends, the party's over; people disperse after an event

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

1 sense · 4 examples
1.

idiom

lit. when the music ends, the audience disperses; fig. when an event concludes, people go their separate ways

literary

Often used to describe the end of gatherings, celebrations, or events, sometimes with a tinge of melancholy about the impermanence of social occasions.

Wǎn晚
huì会
jié结
shù束
hòu后
 ,
dà大
jiā家
qǔ曲
zhōng终
rén人
sàn散
 ,
gè各
huí回
gè各
jiā家
 。

After the party ended, everyone went their separate ways and returned home.

Zhè这
chǎng场
shèng盛
dà大
de的
hūn婚
lǐ礼
zài在
wǔ午
yè夜
qǔ曲
zhōng终
rén人
sàn散
 。

This grand wedding dispersed at midnight when the celebration ended.

Show 2 more examples
Zài再
hǎo好
de的
jù聚
huì会
yě也
yǒu有
qǔ曲
zhōng终
rén人
sàn散
de的
shí时
hou候
 。

Even the best gatherings eventually come to an end and people must part ways.

Fán繁
huá华
guò过
hòu后
zǒng总
shì是
qǔ曲
zhōng终
rén人
sàn散
de的
qī凄
liáng凉
 。

After the prosperity fades, there is always the desolation of people dispersing when the music ends.