断袖之癖

duàn xiù zhī pǐ

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Definitions

1. lit. cut sleeve (idiom); fig. euphemism for homosexuality, originating from History of Western Han 漢書|汉书: emperor Han Aidi (real name Liu Xin) was in bed with his lover Dong Xian, and had to attend a court audience that morning. Not wishing to awaken Dong Xian, who was sleeping with his head resting on the emperor's long robe sleeve, Aidi used a knife to cut off the lower half of his sleeve.

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Child Words of 断袖之癖

• 之 之 zhī: (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de])
• 断 断 duàn: to break
• 断袖 断袖 duàn xiù: homosexual
• 癖 癖 pǐ: habit
• 袖 袖 xiù: sleeve