息息相关
息息相关 (xī xī xiāng guān) literally means “breath to breath mutually connected” and expresses “closely related; intimately connected”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: xi xi xiang guan, xi xi xiang guan,息息相关 meaning, 息息相关 in english
Closely related; intimately connected
Pronunciation: xī xī xiāng guān
Literal meaning: Breath to breath mutually connected
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes being connected breath (息) to breath (息), mutually (相) related (关). The breathing metaphor suggests connection as intimate as shared respiration, where one cannot survive without the other. The phrase emphasizes interdependence so close that changes in one immediately affect the other. It reflects the Chinese philosophical view of universal interconnection. Modern usage commonly describes tightly linked phenomena, policies, or outcomes where impact flows bidirectionally.
Examples
English: "Environmental protection is closely linked to public health."
Chinese: 环境保护与公众健康息息相关。
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一帆风顺
yī fān fēng shùn
Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
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千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
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民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
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国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
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四海升平
sì hǎi shēng píng
Peace everywhere; universal harmony
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安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 息息相关 mean in English?
息息相关 (xī xī xiāng guān) literally translates to “Breath to breath mutually connected” and is used to express “Closely related; intimately connected”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 息息相关 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving closely related; intimately connected.
What is the pinyin for 息息相关?
The pinyin pronunciation for 息息相关 is “xī xī xiāng guān”.