劳燕分飞 oriole and swallow fly apart
Explanation
劳燕分飞，指伯劳鸟和燕子分别向东西方向飞去，比喻夫妻、情侣离别。
Lao Yan Fen Fei, refers to the oriole and swallow flying in opposite directions, which is a metaphor for the separation of couples or lovers.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，有一对恋人，名叫李郎和赵女。两人情投意合，两小无猜，情比金坚。他们常常在柳树下私会，吟诗作对，诉说衷肠。然而，李郎家道中落，不得不远走他乡谋生。临别之际，两人依依惜别，泪如雨下，约定三年后在老地方相会。三年后，李郎衣锦还乡，却不见赵女身影。原来，赵女父亲为其另择佳婿，赵女被迫嫁人。李郎得知真相后，悲痛欲绝，独自一人来到柳树下，回忆往昔甜蜜，感叹劳燕分飞的无奈。从此，他发愤图强，建功立业，以告慰这段刻骨铭心的爱情。
During the Tang Dynasty, there was a couple, Li Lang and Zhao Nu, who were deeply in love. They often met secretly under a willow tree, reciting poems and sharing their innermost feelings. However, Li Lang's family fell into poverty, forcing him to leave for a distant land to seek his fortune. At their farewell, they were heartbroken, tears flowing like rain, with a promise to reunite in the same place three years later. Three years passed, and Li Lang returned home triumphantly, only to find Zhao Nu nowhere in sight. It turned out that her father had arranged a marriage for her with a wealthy man, and she was forced to marry. Upon learning the truth, Li Lang was devastated, and he went alone under the willow tree, reminiscing about their sweet past, lamenting their inevitable separation. From that day on, he devoted himself to his work and eventually achieved great success, as a tribute to their unforgettable love.
Usage
通常用于形容恋人或夫妻离别的场景。
It is usually used to describe scenes of separation between lovers or couples.
Examples
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秋风瑟瑟，劳燕分飞，令人不胜唏嘘。
qiūfēngsèsè, láoyànfēnfēi, lìngrén bùshèngxīxū
The autumn wind is bleak, and the birds fly away from each other, which is really sad.
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这对恋人最终劳燕分飞，令人惋惜。
zhè duì liànrén zuìzhōng láoyànfēnfēi, lìngrén wǎnxī
This couple eventually parted ways, which is a pity.