Chinese Conversation · Level 81
91 words
Chinese word
唇亡齿寒
Pronunciation
Pinyinchún wáng chǐ hán
Meaning
- idiomdependent on each other
Example
两家相互依赖，唇亡齿寒。liǎng jiā xiāng hù yī lài chún wáng chǐ hán
The two sides are dependent on each other.
More examples
老师用唇亡齿寒来说明国家之间的相互依存。lǎo shī yòng chún wáng chǐ hán lái shuō míng guó jiā zhī jiān de xiāng hù yī cún
The teacher used "dependent on each other" to explain how countries depend on each other.
Core concept
Two connected parties share one line of safety: when one is weakened, the other is exposed to the same danger.
Common phrases
唇亡齿寒的意思chún wáng chǐ hán de yì si
the meaning of being dependent on each other
用唇亡齿寒来形容yòng chún wáng chǐ hán lái xíng róng
use dependent on each other to describe
Similar words
唇齿相依chún chǐ xiāng yī: Describes a close relationship in which two sides rely on each other and are hard to separate.
息息相关xī xī xiāng guān: Describes events or situations that are closely connected and affect each other.
Definition in Chinese
形容双方关系紧密，利害相连，一方受损，另一方也会受到影响。xíng róng shuāng fāng guān xì jǐn mì lì hài xiāng lián yì fāng shòu sǔn lìng yì fāng yě huì shòu dào yíng xiǎng
Word origin
唇亡齿寒 (chúnwángchǐhán, "lips lost, teeth cold") pictures lips shielding teeth, so the loss of one leaves the other exposed and gives the idiom its sense of linked interests.
Usage tips
- For a conversational course, this word is useful as a register lesson because it can sound literary even when its meaning is clear in ordinary speech.
Other meanings
- mutually influentialidiom
- share a common fateidiom
Opposites
- 互不相干hù bù xiāng gānunrelated to each otheridiom