duàn​xián

to lose one's wife

Senses

断弦/ 斷弦 duàn​xián to lose one's wife

to be widowed as a man; literally "a broken string", based on the ancient metaphor of a married couple being like two harmonious musical instruments

断弦/ 斷弦 duàn​xián broken string

a string of a musical instrument that has snapped or broken

References

see 断弦/斷弦 琴瑟/琴瑟
antonym 断弦/斷弦 续弦/續弦