26．衣【衤】部 clothes; clothing
一one衣带clothing strip水water
At the end of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420—589), there was a State located south of the Yangzi River 长江known as Chen陈. Emperor Sui Wendi 隋文帝decided to conquer Chen in order to unify all of China. He led his army to the northern side of the Yangzi River, but due to the Yangzi River’s raging current his army was not able to cross. However, Emperor Sui did not give up. He said, “My goal of unifying the country will not be rained by a strip of water.” So he ordered his army to build ships. In the end he successfully conquered Chen and established the Sui Dynasty.
Today, Chinese people use 一衣带水to describe two places are close but separated by a river.
【拼音】yì yī dài shuǐ
【解释】一条衣带那样狭窄的水。指虽有江河湖海相隔，但距离不远，不足以成为交往的阻碍。
【出处】《宋史·潘美传》：“美受诏，提骁果数万人，期于必胜，岂限此一衣带水而不径度乎？”
