Chinese word

相依为命

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiāng yī wéi mìng

Meaning

  • idiomrely on each other to survive

Example

兄弟俩失业后相依为命。xiōng dì liǎ shī yè hòu xiāng yī wéi mìng

After losing their jobs, the two brothers relied on each other to survive.

Illustration for 相依为命 (rely on each other to survive)

More examples

小时候他们失去父母，从此姐弟四人相依为命。xiǎo shí hòu tā men shī qù fù mǔ cóng cǐ jiě dì sì rén xiāng yī wéi mìng

After losing their parents when they were young, the four siblings have relied on each other to survive ever since.

Core concept

A small circle survives by holding onto one another as its main support.

Common phrases

  • 与家人相依为命yǔ jiā rén xiāng yī wéi mìng

    rely on one's family to survive

  • 相依为命的兄弟xiāng yī wéi mìng de xiōng dì

    siblings who rely on each other to survive

  • 相依为命地生活xiāng yī wéi mìng dì shēng huó

    live by relying on each other

Similar words

患难与共huàn nàn yǔ gòng: Stand together and help one another when facing hardship.
同甘共苦tóng gān gòng kǔ: Experience joys and sorrows together over the course of life.
相濡以沫xiāng rú yǐ mò: Manage hardship together by using limited means to give each other mutual support.

Definition in Chinese

在困境或贫困中互相依靠，以对方的帮助维持生活或生存。zài kùn jìng huò pín kùn zhōng hù xiāng yī kào yǐ duì fāng de bāng zhù wéi chí shēng huó huò shēng cún

Word origin

相 (xiāng, "each other") and 依 (yī, "depend on") join 为 (wéi, "take as") and 命 (mìng, "life") to picture another person as the support on which life depends.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, the expression can add a serious, sympathetic tone, so it sounds too strong for a brief favor or ordinary teamwork.

Opposites

Related words

  • 相依xiāng yīrely on each otherverb

Word lists with this word