爱屋及乌
爱屋及乌 (ài wū jí wū) literally means “love house and its crow” and expresses “love extends to all connections”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: ai wu ji wu, ai wu ji wu,爱屋及乌 meaning, 爱屋及乌 in english
Love extends to all connections
Pronunciation: ài wū jí wū
Literal meaning: Love house and its crow
Origin & Usage
This tender expression describes how love (爱) for a house (屋) extends (及) even to the crow (乌) perched on its roof. Dating back to the Warring States period, it first appeared in texts discussing how affection naturally spreads to associated things. The crow, often considered an unremarkable bird, becomes precious merely through its connection to the beloved dwelling. Originally used to describe romantic attachment, it evolved to encompass broader situations where fondness extends beyond its primary object. Modern usage applies to showing kindness to someone's friends or family out of regard for that person, or appreciating aspects of something simply because of its connection to what we cherish.
Examples
English: "She loved her friend so much that she even cherished her friend's peculiar habits"
Chinese: 她如此喜欢她的朋友，连朋友的怪癖也觉得可爱
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 爱屋及乌 mean in English?
爱屋及乌 (ài wū jí wū) literally translates to “Love house and its crow” and is used to express “Love extends to all connections”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 爱屋及乌 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving love extends to all connections.
What is the pinyin for 爱屋及乌?
The pinyin pronunciation for 爱屋及乌 is “ài wū jí wū”.