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 feet → deep 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 feet → as 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 filial → harmonious 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 young → family/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 loving → love 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 guests → mutual 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 harmony → marital/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 hair → till old age together
例:祝你们白头偕老。 - 举案齐眉 (jǔ àn qí méi) — raise the tray to eyebrow level → deep 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 wife → devoted 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 bitterness → share joys and sorrows
例:创业路上我们同甘共苦。 - 患难与共 (huàn nàn yǔ gòng) — endure misfortune together → stick 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 boat → pull 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 saliva → help 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 horse → childhood 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 again → couple 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 family → well-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/phoenix → high hopes for children’s success
例:父母都望子成龙。 - 门当户对 (mén dāng hù duì) — matching doors and households → well-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
- 祝福新人(正式场合):白头偕老 / 乱七八糟 → 白头偕老。
- 形容兄弟情深:情同手足 / 迫不及待 → 情同手足。
- 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。