estrangement; separation of friends/relatives
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
the stars Shen (Orion) and Shang (Scorpio) of the 28 lunar mansions, which never appear together; fig. separation of friends or relatives who cannot meet; estrangement; discord
literaryA classical allusion originating from ancient Chinese astronomy, famously referenced in Du Fu's poem "Life's meetings are rare, like Shen and Shang apart." Used in formal or literary contexts to describe estrangement or separation.
Rén人
shēng生
bù不
xiāng相
jiàn见
，
dòng动
rú如
shēn参
yǔ与
shāng商
。
In life we rarely meet, moving like Shen and Shang that never greet.
Xiōng兄
dì弟
shēn参
shāng商
，
duō多
nián年
wèi未
céng曾
wǎng往
lái来
。
The brothers are estranged like Shen and Shang, having had no contact for many years.
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Zì自
cóng从
nà那
cì次
zhēng争
chǎo吵
hòu后
，
liǎng两
rén人
biàn便
rú如
shēn参
shāng商
zhī之
kuò阔
，
zài再
wèi未
móu谋
miàn面
。
Since that argument, the two have been separated like Shen and Shang, never meeting again.
Tā他
men们
de的
guān关
xì系
rú如
tóng同
shēn参
shāng商
，
suī虽
rán然
shēng生
huó活
zài在
tóng同
yī一
zuò座
chéng城
shì市
，
què却
fǎng仿
fú佛
xiāng相
gé隔
tiān天
yá涯
。
Their relationship is like Shen and Shang; though living in the same city, they might as well be worlds apart.