"兄弟如手足,妻子如衣服" meaning in Chinese

See 兄弟如手足,妻子如衣服 in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Proverb

IPA: /ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵ fu²/ [Mandarin, Standard-Chinese, Sinological-IPA], /hɪŋ⁵⁵ tɐi̯²² jyː²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jyː²¹ jiː⁵⁵ fʊk̚²/ [Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological-IPA] 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: 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. Etymology templates: {{zh-l|兄弟手足}} 兄弟手足 Head templates: {{head|zh|proverb}} 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). Wikipedia link: Liu Bei, Romance of the Three Kingdoms
    Sense id: en-兄弟如手足,妻子如衣服-zh-proverb-nysGLiNN Categories (other): Cantonese proverbs, Chinese entries with incorrect language header, Chinese proverbs, Mandarin proverbs, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries
{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "vi",
            "2": "anh em như tay chân",
            "3": "vợ con như quần áo",
            "calque": "1"
          },
          "expansion": "→ Vietnamese: anh em như tay chân, vợ con như quần áo (calque)",
          "name": "desc"
        },
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "and numerous similar expressions"
          },
          "expansion": "(and numerous similar expressions)",
          "name": "q"
        }
      ],
      "text": "→ Vietnamese: anh em như tay chân, vợ con như quần áo (calque) (and numerous similar expressions)"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "兄弟手足"
      },
      "expansion": "兄弟手足",
      "name": "zh-l"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "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.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "兄弟如手足,妻子似衣服"
    },
    {
      "form": "兄弟如手足,女人如衣服"
    },
    {
      "form": "兄弟如手足,女人似衣服"
    },
    {
      "form": "兄弟如手足,老婆如衣服"
    },
    {
      "form": "兄弟如手足,老婆似衣服"
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "zh",
        "2": "proverb"
      },
      "expansion": "兄弟如手足,妻子如衣服",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Chinese",
  "lang_code": "zh",
  "pos": "proverb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Cantonese proverbs",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Chinese entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Chinese proverbs",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Mandarin proverbs",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Brothers are like one's arms and legs, but wives and children (or women) are only like one's apparel (i.e. readily replaceable)."
      ],
      "id": "en-兄弟如手足,妻子如衣服-zh-proverb-nysGLiNN",
      "links": [
        [
          "Brothers",
          "brother"
        ],
        [
          "arm",
          "arm"
        ],
        [
          "leg",
          "leg"
        ],
        [
          "wives",
          "wives"
        ],
        [
          "child",
          "child"
        ],
        [
          "women",
          "women"
        ],
        [
          "apparel",
          "apparel"
        ]
      ],
      "wikipedia": [
        "Liu Bei",
        "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "xiōngdì rú shǒuzú"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "qīzǐ rú yīfu"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Bopomofo"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "ㄒㄩㄥ ㄉㄧˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄗㄨˊ"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Bopomofo"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "ㄑㄧ ㄗˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧ ˙ㄈㄨ"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Jyutping"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "hing¹ dai⁶ jyu⁴ sau² zuk¹"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Jyutping"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "cai¹ zi² jyu⁴ ji¹ fuk⁶"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "xiōngdì rú shǒuzú"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "qīzǐ rú yīfu"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Bopomofo"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "ㄒㄩㄥ ㄉㄧˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄗㄨˊ"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Bopomofo"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "ㄑㄧ ㄗˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧ ˙ㄈㄨ"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Tongyong-Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "syongdì rú shǒuzú"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Tongyong-Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "cizǐh rú yifů"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Wade-Giles"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "hsiung¹-ti⁴ ju² shou³-tsu²"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Wade-Giles"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "chʻi¹-tzŭ³ ju² i¹-fu⁵"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "syūng-dì rú shǒu-dzú-"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "chī-dž rú yī-fu"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Gwoyeu-Romatsyh"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "shiongdih ru shooutzwu"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Gwoyeu-Romatsyh"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "chitzyy ru i.fu"
    },
    {
      "roman": "sjundi žu šouczu, ciczy žu ifu",
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Palladius"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "сюнди жу шоуцзу"
    },
    {
      "roman": "sjundi žu šouczu, ciczy žu ifu",
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Palladius"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "цицзы жу ифу"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵ fu²/",
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Sinological-IPA"
      ]
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Jyutping"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "hing¹ dai⁶ jyu⁴ sau² zuk¹"
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Jyutping"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "cai¹ zi² jyu⁴ ji¹ fuk⁶"
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "hīng daih yùh sáu jūk"
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "chāi jí yùh yī fuhk"
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Cantonese",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "hing¹ dai⁶ jy⁴ sau² dzuk⁷"
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Cantonese",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "tsai¹ dzi² jy⁴ ji¹ fuk⁹"
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Guangdong-Romanization"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "hing¹ dei⁶ yu⁴ seo² zug¹"
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Guangdong-Romanization"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "cei¹ ji² yu⁴ yi¹ fug⁶"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/hɪŋ⁵⁵ tɐi̯²² jyː²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jyː²¹ jiː⁵⁵ fʊk̚²/",
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Sinological-IPA"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "兄弟如手足,妻子如衣服"
}
{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "vi",
            "2": "anh em như tay chân",
            "3": "vợ con như quần áo",
            "calque": "1"
          },
          "expansion": "→ Vietnamese: anh em như tay chân, vợ con như quần áo (calque)",
          "name": "desc"
        },
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "and numerous similar expressions"
          },
          "expansion": "(and numerous similar expressions)",
          "name": "q"
        }
      ],
      "text": "→ Vietnamese: anh em như tay chân, vợ con như quần áo (calque) (and numerous similar expressions)"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "兄弟手足"
      },
      "expansion": "兄弟手足",
      "name": "zh-l"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "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.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "兄弟如手足,妻子似衣服"
    },
    {
      "form": "兄弟如手足,女人如衣服"
    },
    {
      "form": "兄弟如手足,女人似衣服"
    },
    {
      "form": "兄弟如手足,老婆如衣服"
    },
    {
      "form": "兄弟如手足,老婆似衣服"
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "zh",
        "2": "proverb"
      },
      "expansion": "兄弟如手足,妻子如衣服",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Chinese",
  "lang_code": "zh",
  "pos": "proverb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "Cantonese lemmas",
        "Cantonese proverbs",
        "Chinese entries with incorrect language header",
        "Chinese lemmas",
        "Chinese proverbs",
        "Chinese redlinks/zh-l",
        "Chinese terms spelled with 兄",
        "Chinese terms spelled with 如",
        "Chinese terms spelled with 妻",
        "Chinese terms spelled with 子",
        "Chinese terms spelled with 弟",
        "Chinese terms spelled with 手",
        "Chinese terms spelled with 服",
        "Chinese terms spelled with 衣",
        "Chinese terms spelled with 足",
        "Chinese terms with IPA pronunciation",
        "Mandarin lemmas",
        "Mandarin proverbs",
        "Pages with 1 entry",
        "Pages with entries"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Brothers are like one's arms and legs, but wives and children (or women) are only like one's apparel (i.e. readily replaceable)."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Brothers",
          "brother"
        ],
        [
          "arm",
          "arm"
        ],
        [
          "leg",
          "leg"
        ],
        [
          "wives",
          "wives"
        ],
        [
          "child",
          "child"
        ],
        [
          "women",
          "women"
        ],
        [
          "apparel",
          "apparel"
        ]
      ],
      "wikipedia": [
        "Liu Bei",
        "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "xiōngdì rú shǒuzú"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "qīzǐ rú yīfu"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Bopomofo"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "ㄒㄩㄥ ㄉㄧˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄗㄨˊ"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Bopomofo"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "ㄑㄧ ㄗˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧ ˙ㄈㄨ"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Jyutping"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "hing¹ dai⁶ jyu⁴ sau² zuk¹"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Jyutping"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "cai¹ zi² jyu⁴ ji¹ fuk⁶"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "xiōngdì rú shǒuzú"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "qīzǐ rú yīfu"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Bopomofo"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "ㄒㄩㄥ ㄉㄧˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄗㄨˊ"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Bopomofo"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "ㄑㄧ ㄗˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧ ˙ㄈㄨ"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Tongyong-Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "syongdì rú shǒuzú"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Tongyong-Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "cizǐh rú yifů"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Wade-Giles"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "hsiung¹-ti⁴ ju² shou³-tsu²"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Wade-Giles"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "chʻi¹-tzŭ³ ju² i¹-fu⁵"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "syūng-dì rú shǒu-dzú-"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "chī-dž rú yī-fu"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Gwoyeu-Romatsyh"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "shiongdih ru shooutzwu"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Gwoyeu-Romatsyh"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "chitzyy ru i.fu"
    },
    {
      "roman": "sjundi žu šouczu, ciczy žu ifu",
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Palladius"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "сюнди жу шоуцзу"
    },
    {
      "roman": "sjundi žu šouczu, ciczy žu ifu",
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Palladius"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "цицзы жу ифу"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵ fu²/",
      "tags": [
        "Mandarin",
        "Standard-Chinese",
        "Sinological-IPA"
      ]
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Jyutping"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "hing¹ dai⁶ jyu⁴ sau² zuk¹"
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Jyutping"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "cai¹ zi² jyu⁴ ji¹ fuk⁶"
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "hīng daih yùh sáu jūk"
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Yale"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "chāi jí yùh yī fuhk"
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Cantonese",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "hing¹ dai⁶ jy⁴ sau² dzuk⁷"
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Cantonese",
        "Pinyin"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "tsai¹ dzi² jy⁴ ji¹ fuk⁹"
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Guangdong-Romanization"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "hing¹ dei⁶ yu⁴ seo² zug¹"
    },
    {
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Guangdong-Romanization"
      ],
      "zh_pron": "cei¹ ji² yu⁴ yi¹ fug⁶"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/hɪŋ⁵⁵ tɐi̯²² jyː²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jyː²¹ jiː⁵⁵ fʊk̚²/",
      "raw_tags": [
        "Standard-Cantonese",
        "Hong Kong"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Cantonese",
        "Guangzhou",
        "Sinological-IPA"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "兄弟如手足,妻子如衣服"
}

Download raw JSONL data for 兄弟如手足,妻子如衣服 meaning in Chinese (5.7kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Chinese dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-08-12 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-08-02 using wiktextract (7cef23e and 3c020d2). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.