離枝

離枝

1. (literary) to break off; to be cut off; to be severed (from a branch, a stem, etc.)

   • 求友聲初去，離枝色可嗟。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     求友声初去，离枝色可嗟。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Tang dynasty, 孔溫業, 《鳥散餘花落》

     Qiúyǒu shēng chū qù, lízhī sè kě jiē. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 木落不離根，菊槁不離枝。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     木落不离根，菊槁不离枝。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 13th century, 何夢桂, 《擬古五首·其一》

     Mù luò bù lí gēn, jú gǎo bù lí zhī. [Pinyin]

     Leaves wither but do not break from the root, chrysanthemums dry up but do not break from the stem.

   • 1934, “雨夜花”, 周添旺 (lyrics):

     怎樣乎阮，離葉離枝，永遠無人倘看見 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
     怎样乎阮，离叶离枝，永远无人倘看见 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

     Chóaⁿ-iūⁿ hō͘ gún, lī-hio̍h lī-ki, éng-oán bô-lâng thang khòaⁿ-kìⁿ [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

     Why do you let me be cut off from the leaves and branches, forever unseen by anyone

   • 1997, “花若離枝”, 蔡振南 (lyrics), performed by 蘇芮:

     花若離枝，隨蓮去 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
     花若离枝，随莲去 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

     Hoe nā lī-ki, sûi lian--khì [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

     If the flower breaks off from the stem, it will quickly wither away

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

離枝

1. Lizhi (an ancient kingdom)