duàn​xiù​zhī​pǐ

homosexuality

Senses

断袖之癖/ 斷袖之癖 duàn​xiù​zhī​pǐ homosexuality

euphemism for male homosexuality, literally "the habit of the cut sleeve". The phrase refers to an emperor who cut off his own sleeve rather than wake his sleeping male lover who was sleeping on it.

References

synonym 断袖/斷袖 断袖之癖/斷袖之癖