Definition
节哀 is a polite condolence expression used to tell someone who has lost a loved one to 'restrain their grief'. It often appears in the four-character set phrase 节哀顺变 (jié āi shùn biàn), which combines the idea of holding back sorrow and accepting the change. Although the dictionary here lists pinyin as jiē, the actual pronunciation is jié āi (节 is second tone). As a separable verb (v.o.), it can technically split (e.g. 节了哀), but in everyday use it stays as a fixed two-syllable unit.
v.o.
(polite expression) to restrain one's grief (used to console someone in mourning)
Examples
- 节哀，。Qǐng jiē shùn biàn, bǎozhòng shēntǐ.Please restrain your grief and accept the change; take care of yourself.
- ，节哀。Zhè shíhou shuō shénme dōu méi yòng, zhǐ néng quàn tā jiē.At times like this, nothing you say helps; you can only urge him to restrain his grief.
- ，，。Jīngguò yī duàn shíjiān, tā zhōngyú jié le āi, chóngxīn zhènzuò qǐlái.After a period of time, he finally restrained his grief and pulled himself together again.
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