相濡以沫
Chinese edit
each other; appearance; portrait each other; appearance; portrait; picture; one another; mutually |
dilatory; to moisten | to use; according to; so as to to use; according to; so as to; in order to; by; with; because; Israel (abbrev.) |
foam; suds | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (相濡以沫) | 相 | 濡 | 以 | 沫 | |
| simp. #(相濡以沫) | 相 | 濡 | 以 | 沫 | |
| Literally: “to moisten each other with spittle”. | |||||
Etymology edit
From Zhuangzi [ca. 3rd – 2nd centuries BCE]:
- 泉涸，魚相與處於陸，相呴以溼，相濡以沫，不如相忘於江湖。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: Zhuangzi, circa 3rd – 2nd centuries BCE
- Quán hé, yú xiāngyǔ chǔ yú lù, xiāng xǔ yǐ shī, xiāng rú yǐ mò, bùrú xiāngwàng yú jiānghú. [Pinyin]
- When the springs are dried up, the fishes collect together on the land. Than that they should moisten one another there by the damp about them, and keep one another wet by their slime, it would be better for them to forget one another in the rivers and lakes.
泉涸，鱼相与处于陆，相呴以湿，相濡以沫，不如相忘于江湖。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation edit
Idiom edit
相濡以沫
- (figurative) to help each other pull through a crisis; mutual help when both are in humble situations
- (figurative, of a loving couple) to accompany each other through times of prosperity and hardships till the end of time