舐犊情深 Tender love for calves
Explanation
舐：舔；舐犊：老牛舔小牛的毛以示爱抚。比喻对子女的慈爱之情。
Lick; an old ox licking the fur of a calf to show affection. A metaphor for the tender love for children.
Origin Story
东汉末年，名士杨彪因其子杨修被曹操所杀，悲痛欲绝。曹操为笼络人心，假意慰问杨彪，问及他为何如此消瘦憔悴。杨彪无奈地答道："老牛舐犊情深，孩儿被杀，我心里怎能平静？"曹操听后默然，顿觉自己行为的残忍，也为杨彪的舐犊之情所感动。此事也成为了后世歌颂父子亲情的千古佳话。杨彪的忠义与舐犊之情，更成为后人敬仰的典范。
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the famous scholar Yang Biao was deeply saddened by the death of his son Yang Xiu. Cao Cao, in order to win over people’s hearts, pretended to comfort Yang Biao and inquired about the reason for his thin, haggard appearance. Yang Biao replied sadly: "An old ox loves its calf so deeply, how can my heart be at peace when my child was killed?" Cao Cao fell silent after hearing this, suddenly realizing the cruelty of his own actions, and being touched by Yang Biao’s love for his son. This story later became a great story of the ages that praised the love between father and son. Yang Biao's loyalty and love for his son became an example for posterity.
Usage
形容父母对子女的慈爱。
Describes the tender love of parents for their children.
Examples
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父母对孩子的爱，真是舐犊情深。
fumu dui haizi de ai, zhen shi shidu qingshen
The love of parents for their children is truly profound.
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老牛舐犊，感人至深。
laoniu shidu, ganrenzhishen
The love of an old ox for its calf is touching and profound.