Definition
扼腕 is a literary verb-object compound meaning 'to wring one's wrist in anguish' — a gesture of regret, frustration, or helplessness. It's used in formal or written Chinese, often in news or historical narratives, to express deep sympathy or disappointment over a missed opportunity or tragic event. The object is implied, so you don't add a direct object after it.
v.o.
(literary) to wring one's wrist in anguishto express deep regret or frustration
Examples
- ，扼腕。Tīng dào zhège xiāoxi, tā zhǐ néng è wàn tànxī.Upon hearing this news, he could only wring his wrist and sigh.
- ，扼腕。Duìyú zhèyàng de jiéguǒ, dàjiā wú bù è wàn.Everyone wrung their wrists in anguish over such an outcome.
- 扼腕。Tā yīn cuòshī liángjī ér è wàn bù yǐ.He wrung his wrist endlessly over missing the golden opportunity.
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