Chengyu about family and relationships

These **family & relationship chengyu (成语)** help you talk about love, marriage, kinship, and support. You’ll learn the *literal image*, the *idiomatic meaning*, and a *natural example* you can use right away.

  • Chengyu Idioms
  • 2 min read
Article 3 of 5 in Basic-Chengyu-for-Beginners/

Core Chengyu for Bonds & Kinship

  • 手足之情 (shǒu zú zhī qíng)feelings like hands and feetdeep sibling-like bond
    例:我们一起长大,手足之情很深。
  • 情同手足 (qíng tóng shǒu zú)feelings as if hands and feetas close as brothers/sisters
    例:同屋三年,大家情同手足
  • 父慈子孝 (fù cí zǐ xiào)father kind, child filialharmonious parent–child relationship
    例:邻里都夸他们家父慈子孝
  • 尊老爱幼 (zūn lǎo ài yòu)respect elders, love the youngfamily/community ethos
    例:社区倡导尊老爱幼

Love, Marriage, and Long-Term Partnership

  • 相亲相爱 (xiāng qīn xiāng ài)mutually close and lovinglove each other
    例:他们夫妻相亲相爱,很让人羡慕。
  • 相敬如宾 (xiāng jìng rú bīn)respect each other like guestsmutual respect in marriage/partnership
    例:多年之后仍相敬如宾
  • 琴瑟和鸣 (qín sè hé míng)qin and se in harmonymarital/relationship harmony
    例:新婚快乐,愿你们琴瑟和鸣
  • 白头偕老 (bái tóu xié lǎo)grow old together with white hairtill old age together
    例:祝你们白头偕老
  • 举案齐眉 (jǔ àn qí méi)raise the tray to eyebrow leveldeep respect between spouses
    例:他们相处举案齐眉
  • 伉俪情深 (kàng lì qíng shēn)deep affection between husband and wifedevoted couple(书面语)
    例:这对伉俪情深,相伴多年。

Standing Together Through Hardship

  • 同甘共苦 (tóng gān gòng kǔ)share sweetness and bitternessshare joys and sorrows
    例:创业路上我们同甘共苦
  • 患难与共 (huàn nàn yǔ gòng)endure misfortune togetherstick together in adversity
    例:困难时刻,家人患难与共
  • 同舟共济 (tóng zhōu gòng jì)cross the river in the same boatpull together to overcome
    例:这次挑战,全家同舟共济
  • 相濡以沫 (xiāng rú yǐ mò)moisten each other with salivahelp each other in dire need
    例:清贫岁月里他们相濡以沫

Childhood Sweethearts & Reconciliation

  • 青梅竹马 (qīng méi zhú mǎ)green plums, hobby horsechildhood sweethearts
    例:他们是青梅竹马,感情很稳。
  • 破镜重圆 (pò jìng chóng yuán)a broken mirror made whole againcouple reconciles after separation
    例:多年后两人破镜重圆

Family Reputation, Hopes, and Matching

  • 家喻户晓 (jiā yù hù xiǎo)known by every familywell-known in every household(谈家庭名声/口碑)
    例:这是家喻户晓的故事。
  • 望子成龙 (wàng zǐ chéng lóng)(/ 望女成凤)— hope the child becomes a dragon/phoenixhigh hopes for children’s success
    例:父母都望子成龙
  • 门当户对 (mén dāng hù duì)matching doors and householdswell-matched in family background(传统观念;现代语境慎用)
    例:老人家讲究门当户对,年轻人更看重三观合拍。

Register & Cultural Notes

  • 正式祝辞:婚礼/纪念日可用 琴瑟和鸣、白头偕老、举案齐眉
  • 艰难相守:描述陪伴与支持,用 同甘共苦、患难与共、相濡以沫
  • 价值观平衡:像 门当户对 带传统色彩,现代交流中可配合说法(如“价值观契合”)。

Mini Dialogues

  • A: 你们结婚这么多年,感情如何?
    B: 还好,算是相敬如宾吧。

  • A: 创业不容易吧?
    B: 是啊,但家人一直同舟共济,挺过来了。

  • A: 他们为什么被大家羡慕?
    B: 多年举案齐眉,真的难得。

Quick Practice

  1. 祝福新人(正式场合):白头偕老 / 乱七八糟白头偕老
  2. 形容兄弟情深:情同手足 / 迫不及待情同手足
  3. 描述一起经历困难:患难与共 / 津津有味患难与共

Learning Tips

  • 按主题分组:婚恋类、亲子类、团结互助类。
  • 造句输出:把每条写成你自己的家庭/朋友故事。
  • 避免堆叠:一次用一个最贴切的成语,保证自然度。

Takeaway: 家庭与感情场景中,掌握 相亲相爱、相敬如宾、同甘共苦、情同手足、白头偕老、相濡以沫 等高频成语,能让你的表达既温暖又得体。

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Chengyu Idioms

Written by : Chengyu Idioms

A lifelong scholar and enthusiast of Chinese culture and language.

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