10 Chinese Proverbs About Family & Filial Piety

Remember your roots

Literal meaning: Drink water think source

This reflection on gratitude emerged during the Tang Dynasty, using the everyday act of drinking (饮) water (水) to remind one to think (思) of its source (源). The idiom gained prominence through Buddhist texts that emphasized mindful appreciation of life's foundations. It was particularly meaningful i...

Honor one's teachers or humble origins

Literal meaning: Love fur turn inside-out fur coat

The Warring States period text 'Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals' introduces this image of loving fur (爱毛) so much that one turns a fur coat inside out (反裘) to examine its foundation. Han Dynasty scholars transformed it into a metaphor for valuing origins over appearances. In northern China, where fur ...

Show profound respect and patience seeking wisdom

Literal meaning: Cheng door stand snow

A Song Dynasty tale of devotion immortalized student Yang Shi, who stood in snow (立雪) outside philosopher Cheng Yi's door (程门), awaiting his teacher's wisdom. Yuan Dynasty scholars adopted it as the model for ideal student-teacher relationships. The image of a scholar enduring physical discomfort in...

Inseparable; always together

Literal meaning: Body and shadow never separate

This idiom compares close companions to a person (形, form/body) and their shadow (影) that never (不) separate (离). The phrase originates from ancient Chinese poetry expressing the pain of loneliness, where one had only their shadow for company. It evolved to describe the most intimate of relationship...

Teach by word and deed

Literal meaning: Teach by words and personal example

This idiom describes teaching through words (言传) and personal example (身教). It recognizes that instruction involves both verbal teaching and modeling behavior. Actions often teach more powerfully than words. Modern usage emphasizes the importance of practicing what one preaches, recognizing that chi...

Treat each other with respect

Literal meaning: Respect each other like guests

This idiom describes respecting each other (相敬) like guests (如宾). It comes from Zuozhuan describing an ideal married couple who maintained the courtesy usually reserved for guests. The phrase depicts marriages where respect never fades into familiarity. Modern usage describes relationships, especial...

Married couple with great mutual respect

Literal meaning: Raise tray level with eyebrows

This idiom describes raising (举) a food tray (案) level (齐) with one's eyebrows (眉). It comes from the story of Meng Guang who showed deep respect for her husband Liang Hong by always raising his food tray to eye level when serving him. Modern usage describes marriages characterized by deep mutual re...

Grow old together; lifelong partnership

Literal meaning: White heads together in old age

This idiom describes white (白) heads (头) together (偕) in old age (老). It depicts couples who grow old together, their hair turning white side by side. The phrase is a common blessing at weddings. Modern usage expresses wishes for lasting marriages, the hope that couples will remain devoted until bot...

Return to one's roots; go back home

Literal meaning: Falling leaves return to roots

This idiom describes falling (落) leaves (叶) returning (归) to their roots (根). Just as leaves fall and nourish the tree that produced them, people often return to their origins. The phrase captures the pull of one's homeland. Modern usage describes returning to one's birthplace or origins, especially...

Hard to leave one's homeland

Literal meaning: Native soil hard to leave

This idiom describes native (故) soil (土) being hard (难) to leave (离). It captures the emotional attachment to one's homeland that makes departure difficult. The phrase recognizes the deep bonds between people and places. Modern usage describes the difficulty of leaving one's hometown or country, the...