藕 ㄡ ˇ ǒu 断 ㄉㄨㄢ ˋ duàn 丝 ㄙ sī 连 ㄌㄧㄢ ˊ lián 藕 ㄡ ˇ ǒu 斷 ㄉㄨㄢ ˋ duàn 絲 ㄙ sī 連 ㄌㄧㄢ ˊ lián lit. lotus roots may break, but the fiber remains joined (idiom); lovers part, but still long for one another