难解难分 Nán jiě nán fēn Inseparable

Explanation

形容双方争斗、比赛等难分难解，难以分开。也形容双方关系十分亲密，难以分离。

Describes a fight, competition, etc., that is very close and difficult to separate. Also describes a very close relationship between two parties that is difficult to separate.

Origin Story

话说当年，武王伐纣，姜子牙帐下两员大将，哪吒和雷震子，在战场上相遇。两人武艺高强，兵器各异，哪吒三尖两刃刀锋利异常，雷震子混天绫变化莫测，杀得难解难分。一时间，刀光剑影，火花四溅，双方你来我往，都不肯退让半分。哪吒使出乾坤圈，雷震子祭出风火轮，两人斗得天昏地暗，日月无光。周围的士兵看得目瞪口呆，全然忘了厮杀。最后，姜子牙见两人久战不下，怕误了战机，赶紧派人鸣金收兵。虽然战斗结束，但两人之间的较量，却让人记忆犹新，难解难分。

huà shuō dāng nián, wǔ wáng fá zhòu, jiāng zǐ yá zhàng xià liǎng yuán dà jiàng, ná zhā hé léi zhèn zi, zài zhàn chǎng shang xiāng yù. liǎng rén wǔ yì gāo qiáng, bīng qì gè yì, ná zhā sān jiān liǎng rèn dāo fēng lì yì cháng, léi zhèn zi hùn tiān líng biàn huà mò cè, shā de nán jiě nán fēn. yī shí jiān, dāo guāng jiàn yǐng, huǒ huā sì jiàn, shuāng fāng nǐ lái wǒ wǎng, dōu bù kěn tuì ràng bàn fēn. ná zhā shǐ chū qián kūn quān, léi zhèn zi jì chū fēng huǒ lún, liǎng rén dòu de tiān hūn dì àn, rì yuè wú guāng. zhōu wéi de shì bìng kàn de mù dèng dāi dāi, quán rán wàng le sī shā. zuì hòu, jiāng zǐ yá jiàn liǎng rén jiǔ zhàn bù xià, pà wù le zhàn jī, gǎn jǐn pài rén míng jīn shōu bīng. suī rán zhàn dòu jié shù, dàn liǎng rén zhī jiān de jiào liàng, què ràng rén jì yì yóu xīn, nán jiě nán fēn.

In the Battle of Muye, Nezha and Leizhenzi, two renowned generals under Jiang Ziya, clashed on the battlefield. Their skills were unmatched, and their weapons—Nezha's magical trident and Leizhenzi's mystical wind-fire wheels—created a spectacle of unmatched ferocity. The battle raged, a whirlwind of strikes and counter-strikes, neither warrior able to gain a decisive advantage. The clash was so fierce, the soldiers around them momentarily forgot their own fighting, captivated by the dazzling display of skill. Finally, Jiang Ziya, concerned about the length of the battle, ordered a retreat. Even though the battle concluded, the fierce intensity of the encounter between Nezha and Leizhenzi, and the lack of a clear victor, remained etched in the memory of all who witnessed it.

Usage

多用于形容双方势均力敌，竞争激烈，或感情深厚，难以分离。

duō yòng yú xíng róng shuāng fāng shì jūn lì dí, jìng zhēng jī liè, huò gǎn qíng shēn hòu, nán yǐ fēn lí.

Often used to describe that both sides are equally strong, the competition is fierce, or the feelings are deep and difficult to separate.

Examples

• 两军对垒，战况难解难分。

  liang jun duilei, zhan kuang nan jie nan fen

  The two armies were locked in a fierce battle.

• 这对恋人，感情难解难分。

  zhei dui lianren, ganqing nan jie nan fen

  This couple is inseparable

Related Idioms

• 难舍难分

• 难分伯仲

Opposite Idioms

• 一刀两断

• 分道扬镳