尊老爱幼
尊老爱幼 (zūn lǎo ài yòu) literally means “respect the old, love the young” and expresses “intergenerational harmony”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: zun lao ai you, zun lao ai you,尊老爱幼 meaning, 尊老爱幼 in english
Intergenerational harmony
Pronunciation: zūn lǎo ài yòu Literal meaning: Respect the old, love the young
Origin & Usage
Respect (尊) the old (老), cherish (爱) the young (幼). The four characters are a modern compression, but the thought is Mencius at his most quoted — treat your own elders as elders and extend it to the elders of others, treat your own young as young and extend it to the young of others — which makes the phrase a summary of Confucian social ethics in the space of a slogan. It functions as one. It appears on public notices, in civics education, and above priority seating on buses.
Examples
English: "In our community, we practice respect for the elderly and kindness to children."
Chinese: 在我们的社区，尊老爱幼是大家共同遵守的原则。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
老当益壮
lǎo dāng yì zhuàng
Vigor despite age
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返老还童
fǎn lǎo huán tóng
Regain vitality
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妄自尊大
wàng zì zūn dà
Be conceited; have an inflated ego
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德高望重
dé gāo wàng zhòng
Respected elder
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爱屋及乌
ài wū jí wū
Love extends to all connections
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爱毛反裘
ài máo fǎn qiú
Protect the surface, ruin the foundation
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春风化雨
chūn fēng huà yǔ
Gentle, nurturing influence
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守望相助
shǒu wàng xiāng zhù
Neighbours look out for each other
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 尊老爱幼 mean in English?
尊老爱幼 (zūn lǎo ài yòu) literally translates to “Respect the old, love the young” and is used to express “Intergenerational harmony”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 尊老爱幼 used?
Situation: In our community, we practice respect for the elderly and kindness to children.
What is the pinyin for 尊老爱幼?
The pinyin pronunciation for 尊老爱幼 is “zūn lǎo ài yòu”.