1 lit. only one branch of the tree is thriving (idiom)
2 fig. to be in a league of one's own
3 outstanding
你走你的阳关道,我过我的独木桥
nǐ zǒu nǐ de Yáng guān Dào , wǒ guò wǒ de dú mù qiáo
1 lit. you hit the high road, I'll cross the log bridge (idiom)
2 fig. you go your way, I'll go mine
3 you do it your way, I'll do it mine
伤筋断骨
shāng jīn duàn gǔ
1 to suffer serious injury (idiom)
割袍断义
gē páo duàn yì
1 to rip one's robe as a sign of repudiating a sworn brotherhood (idiom)
2 to break all friendly ties
匠心独运
jiàng xīn dú yùn
1 original and ingenious (idiom)
2 to show great creativity
单打独斗
dān dǎ dú dòu
1 to fight alone (idiom)
单丝不成线,独木不成林
dān sī bù chéng xiàn , dú mù bù chéng lín
1 one strand does not make a thread, one tree does not make a forest (idiom)
孤独于世
gū dú yú shì
1 alone in the world (idiom)
得天独厚
dé tiān dú hòu
1 blessed by heaven (idiom)
2 enjoying exceptional advantages
3 favored by nature
快刀断乱麻
kuài dāo duàn luàn má
1 lit. quick sword cuts through tangled hemp (idiom); decisive action in a complex situation
2 cutting the Gordian knot
应机立断
yìng jī lì duàn
1 to act on an opportunity (idiom); to take prompt advantage of a situation
投鞭断流
tóu biān duàn liú
1 arms enough to stem the stream (idiom); formidable army
接连不断
jiē lián bù duàn
1 in unbroken succession (idiom)
断港绝潢
duàn gǎng jué huáng
1 to be unable to continue
2 to come to a dead end (idiom)
断章取义
duàn zhāng qǔ yì
1 to quote out of context (idiom)
断线风筝
duàn xiàn fēng zhēng
1 a kite with cut string (idiom); fig. gone beyond recall
断袖之癖
duàn xiù zhī pǐ
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.
柔肠寸断
róu cháng cùn duàn
1 lit. to feel as if one's intestines have been cut short