使用绝对定位。对您的标记进行一些小的更改。
这是小提琴:http : //jsfiddle.net/n9G7y/
HTML
<ul>
<li>
<span class="title">Some very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text very long text</span>
<span class="tip">tip for this item extends beyond end of ellipsis</span>
</li>
<li></li>
</ul>
CSS
ul {
list-style: none;
min-width: 50px;
width: 100px;
margin: auto;
display: inline-table;
margin-right: 5px;
overflow: visible;
}
li {
position: relative;
}
.title {
display: inline-block;
height: 25px;
line-height: 25px;
text-align: center;
width: 140px;
white-space: nowrap;
text-overflow: ellipsis;
overflow: hidden;
}
.tip {
display: none;
}
li:hover .tip {
display: block;
position: absolute;
z-index: 1;
top: 20px;
left: 20px;
width: 300px;
}