唇亡齿寒
唇亡齿寒 (chún wáng chǐ hán) literally means “lips gone teeth cold” and expresses “fates linked together”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: chun wang chi han, chun wang chi han,唇亡齿寒 meaning, 唇亡齿寒 in english
Fates linked together
Pronunciation: chún wáng chǐ hán Literal meaning: Lips gone teeth cold
Origin & Usage
This metaphor comes from the Zuo Zhuan, in the Spring and Autumn period. Jin sought permission to march through the small state of Yu in order to attack its neighbour Guo. Yu's advisor Gong Zhiqi objected that Yu and Guo depended on one another as lips (唇) and teeth (齿) do: once the lips are gone (亡), the teeth feel the cold (寒). The Duke of Yu, tempted by Jin's gifts, granted passage anyway. Jin destroyed Guo, and on the return march destroyed Yu as well. Two parties whose fates are joined whether or not they admit it — and usually said as a warning to the one that believes itself safe.
Examples
English: "When the supplier failed, the manufacturer's production also suffered"
Chinese: 当供应商倒闭时，制造商的生产也受到影响
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
唇齿相依
chún chǐ xiāng yī
Mutual reliance
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不寒而栗
bù hán ér lì
Fear-induced shivering
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如履薄冰
rú lǚ bó bīng
Extreme caution in risky situations
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雪上加霜
xuě shàng jiā shuāng
Add insult to injury; make things worse
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十年寒窗
shí nián hán chuāng
Diligent study
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冰消瓦解
bīng xiāo wǎ jiě
Complete collapse
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冰清玉洁
bīng qīng yù jié
Impeccable moral character and integrity
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功亏一篑
gōng kuī yī kuì
Fail due to giving up near the end
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 唇亡齿寒 mean in English?
唇亡齿寒 (chún wáng chǐ hán) literally translates to “Lips gone teeth cold” and is used to express “Fates linked together”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 唇亡齿寒 used?
Situation: When the supplier failed, the manufacturer's production also suffered
What is the pinyin for 唇亡齿寒?
The pinyin pronunciation for 唇亡齿寒 is “chún wáng chǐ hán”.
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