破镜重圆

Pronunciation: pò jìng chóng yuán Literal meaning: Broken mirror reunited

Origin & Usage

The idiom 破镜重圆 (pò jìng chóng yuán) originates from a poignant story during the late Southern and Northern Dynasties period. As the Chen Dynasty was on the brink of collapse, Xu Deyan, husband to Princess Lechang, foresaw their impending separation due to war. In a tearful farewell, they broke a bronze mirror (破, break; 镜, mirror) in half, each keeping a piece as a token of their bond. They vowed to reunite on the Lantern Festival by selling their mirror halves in the market. After the Chen Dynasty fell, Princess Lechang became a concubine in the household of a Sui Dynasty noble. Xu Deyan, after much hardship, found her through the mirror pieces, and they were eventually reunited. The idiom symbolizes the reunion of separated lovers or spouses. In modern usage, it represents hope and the possibility of reconciliation after separation.

Examples

English: "After years apart, they finally reconciled and repaired their broken relationship."

Chinese: 经过多年的分离，他们终于破镜重圆，修复了关系。