守望相助

Pronunciation: shǒu wàng xiāng zhù Literal meaning: Watch and help each other

Origin & Usage

To keep watch (守望) and help one another (相助). The phrase appears in the Mencius, in the description of the well-field system, where families holding land in common were to go out and come in together, guard against thieves together, and support one another in illness. What it names is a specific arrangement rather than general goodwill — mutual obligation between neighbours who cannot easily call anyone else. It is said now of communities in a disaster, and it is the standard phrase in appeals for that kind of help.

Examples

English: "During the crisis, neighbors took turns checking on elderly residents"

Chinese: 在危机期间，邻居们轮流照看年长居民