| 拔茅连茹 |
bá máo lián rú |
lit. pull up a plant and the roots follow (idiom); fig. also involving others / inextricably tangled together / Invite one and he'll tell all his friends. |
| 拔 |
bá |
to pull up / to pull out / to draw out by suction / to select / to pick / to stand out (above level) / to surpass / to seize |
| 茅 |
Máo |
surname Mao |
| 茅 |
máo |
reeds / rushes |
| 连 |
Lián |
surname Lian |
| 连 |
lián |
to link / to join / to connect / continuously / in succession / including / (used with 也, 都 etc) even / company (military) |
| 茹 |
Rú |
surname Ru |
| 茹 |
rú |
to eat / (extended meaning) to endure / putrid smell / vegetables / roots (inextricably attached to the plant) |