Chinese idiom · 成语
分道扬镳
Meaning
To part ways and gallop off; diverging paths.
Character by character
Origin and story
Historical anecdoteThe Book of Wei records a dispute between Yuan Zhi, magistrate of Luoyang, and the senior censor Li Biao over who should give way on the road. Each appealed to his office's importance, and both brought the argument before Emperor Xiaowen. The emperor told them to divide the road and proceed separately. They then measured it and each took half.
The account uses fen lu yang biao, with lu rather than dao. Biao refers to part of a horse's bridle, so the image is of directing horses along separate courses. Later the expression became a metaphor for people ending a partnership or pursuing different ambitions.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
两人的经营理念差距太大，最后决定分道扬镳。
Their approaches to running the business differed so much that they finally decided to go their separate ways.
Often describes the end of cooperation because goals or views diverge.