镜分鸾凤 — “Refers to the separation of a married couple”

镜分鸾凤 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “refers to the separation of a married couple”. Often implying a forced or sorrowful parting, with a longing for reunion. Literally, “A mirror split, the luan and phoenix separated”.

Frequency

镜分鸾凤 Pronunciation and Pinyin

镜分鸾凤 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
镜	jìng	16	mirror, lens, or glasses
分	fēn	4	divide, separate, share
鸾	luán	11	mythical auspicious bird
凤	fèng	4	mythical phoenix bird

Example Sentence with 镜分鸾凤

他们曾经是模范夫妻，但因误会而镜分鸾凤，令人惋惜。

They were once an exemplary couple, but due to misunderstanding, they became separated like the luan and phoenix with a broken mirror, which is truly regrettable.

Origin and Story of 镜分鸾凤

During the twilight years of the Southern Chen dynasty, Xu Deyan, the imperial son-in-law, and his wife, Princess Lechang, anticipated their inability to remain together. They decided to break a bronze mirror into two halves, each taking one piece. They agreed to meet on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, where one would sell the broken mirror in the marketplace to establish contact.

After the fall of the Chen dynasty, Princess Lechang was taken into the household of Yang Su. On the appointed date, Xu Deyan, after much hardship, arrived in Chang'an as agreed. He found his wife by identifying the other half of the broken mirror being sold, and the couple was reunited.