# 分道扬镳

fēn dào yáng biāo

Go separate ways

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Take different roads and urge the horses onward

**Traditional Chinese:** 分道揚鑣

**Register:** Neutral · general

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Describe people or groups separating after a shared path.

Often figurative; separation need not involve hostility.

## Understanding the expression

Travelers who once followed the same route now guide their horses toward different destinations. The expression applies that branching journey to partnerships, careers, or beliefs. Two people can separate because their aims change, without either being wrong. It commonly marks the end of a shared undertaking and the start of independent action. Context determines whether the parting is peaceful, painful, or driven by a serious disagreement.

## Examples

毕业后，我们分道扬镳，各自去了不同城市。

### Traditional Chinese

畢業後，我們分道揚鑣，各自去了不同城市。

bì yè hòu ， wǒ men fēn dào yáng biāo ， gè zì qù le bù tóng chéng shì 。

After graduation, we went our separate ways to different cities.

两位合伙人经营理念不同，决定分道扬镳。

### Traditional Chinese

兩位合夥人經營理念不同，決定分道揚鑣。

liǎng wèi hé huǒ rén jīng yíng lǐ niàn bù tóng ， jué dìng fēn dào yáng biāo 。

The partners had different business philosophies and decided to part ways.

项目结束，两家公司分道扬镳。

### Traditional Chinese

項目結束，兩家公司分道揚鑣。

xiàng mù jié shù ， liǎng jiā gōng sī fēn dào yáng biāo 。

The companies went their separate ways when the project ended.

他们虽已分道扬镳，仍保持联系。

### Traditional Chinese

他們雖已分道揚鑣，仍保持聯繫。

tā men suī yǐ fēn dào yáng biāo ， réng bǎo chí lián xì 。

Though they have gone separate ways, they still keep in touch.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%88%86%E9%81%93%E6%8F%9A%E9%91%A3)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=372&webMd=1&la=0)

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