兄弟如手足,妻子如衣服

Chinese

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brother; brethren; brothers and sisters
 
as (if); such as hands and feet wife; wife and child as (if); such as
trad. (兄弟如手足,妻子如衣服) 兄弟 手足 妻子 衣服
simp. #(兄弟如手足,妻子如衣服) 兄弟 手足 妻子 衣服
alternative forms 兄弟如手足,妻子似衣服
兄弟如手足,女人如衣服
兄弟如手足,女人似衣服
兄弟如手足,老婆如衣服
兄弟如手足,老婆似衣服

Etymology

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Popularised by Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 15, where this ancient saying was quoted by Liu Bei. The concept of brethren being limb-like was preexisting; compare 兄弟手足.

Pronunciation

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Proverb

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兄弟如手足,妻子如衣服

  1. Brothers are like one's arms and legs, but wives and children (or women) are only like one's apparel (i.e. readily replaceable).

Descendants

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  • Vietnamese: anh em như tay chân, vợ con như quần áo (calque) (and numerous similar expressions)