Literally meaning to drum on a bowl; used as an idiom to express grief for a lost wife. The phrase originates from the Daoist philosopher 庄子 zhuāng​zǐ, who was found singing and drumming on a basin after his wife died, viewing death as a natural transition.

Connects a describing word or phrase to the noun it describes, similar to 的 de but used in formal or literary writing.

(bound form) grief; sorrow; sadness