情同手足
情同手足 (qíng tóng shǒu zú) literally means “feelings like hands and feet” and expresses “sibling-like bond”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: qing tong shou zu, qing tong shou zu,情同手足 meaning, 情同手足 in english
Sibling-like bond
Pronunciation: qíng tóng shǒu zú Literal meaning: Feelings like hands and feet
Origin & Usage
Feeling (情) the same as (同) between hands (手) and feet (足). It is the active twin of 手足之情: that phrase names the bond between actual brothers, while this one claims it for people who are not related. That is the whole point of the construction — 同 is doing the comparing. It is what Chinese says about sworn brothers, old army units and friendships of thirty years, and it is a considerable claim rather than a pleasantry.
Examples
English: "Despite not being related by blood, they treated each other like family."
Chinese: 尽管没有血缘关系，他们却情同手足。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
手足之情
shǒu zú zhī qíng
Brotherly affection
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手足无措
shǒu zú wú cuò
At a loss; flustered
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待人热情
dài rén rè qíng
Treat others with genuine warmth and enthusiasm
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心甘情愿
xīn gān qíng yuàn
Willingly; without reluctance
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情投意合
qíng tóu yì hé
Be perfectly compatible; hit it off
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一见钟情
yī jiàn zhōng qíng
Love at first sight
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眉目传情
méi mù chuán qíng
Non-verbal affection
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同舟共济
tóng zhōu gòng jì
Face challenges together
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 情同手足 mean in English?
情同手足 (qíng tóng shǒu zú) literally translates to “Feelings like hands and feet” and is used to express “Sibling-like bond”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 情同手足 used?
Situation: Despite not being related by blood, they treated each other like family.
What is the pinyin for 情同手足?
The pinyin pronunciation for 情同手足 is “qíng tóng shǒu zú”.