Kẻ Tấn người Tần

Definition

1. Idiom:
   • People from Jin and people from Qin: This idiom refers to a state of being far apart or separated by a great distance, either physically or metaphorically. It originates from the historical Chinese states of Jin and Qin during the Spring and Autumn period, which were located far from each other (Jin in the east, Qin in the west).

Usage Examples

• Idiom:
  • Hai anh em sống kẻ Tấn người Tần, khó lòng gặp mặt. (The two brothers live far apart, making it difficult to meet.)
  • Sau khi tốt nghiệp, nhóm bạn thân trở thành kẻ Tấn người Tần. (After graduation, the close friends became separated, living in distant places.)

Advanced Usage

• The idiom is primarily used in literary or formal contexts to poetically describe separation. It emphasizes a sense of distance that hinders regular contact or creates a divide.

Variants and Related Words

• Xa cách (v): to be separated, to be far apart.

  • Họ bị xa cách vì công việc. (They were separated because of work.)

• Đôi ngả (phrase): to go separate ways.

  • Chúng tôi chia tay và mỗi người đi một ngả. (We parted and each went our separate way.)

Synonyms

• Far apart: at a great distance.
• Separated: kept apart; divided.
• Poles apart: completely different or far removed.

Related Idioms

• Kẻ Bắc người Nam: literally "one person North, one person South"; similar meaning of being separated geographically.

  • Gia đình ly tán, kẻ Bắc người Nam. (The family was scattered, with members in the North and the South.)

• Đông Tây cách trở: the East and the West are separated; describes a significant barrier or distance.

  • Tình bạn của họ không bị ảnh hưởng dù đông tây cách trở. (Their friendship was unaffected despite the great distance between them.)