Marriage
Deep
夫妻本是同林鸟，大难临头各自飞
fū qī běn shì tóng lín niǎo, dà nàn lín tóu gè zì fēi
Husband and wife are birds of the same forest, but when disaster comes, each flies away.
Literal translation
Husband and wife originally are birds of the same forest; when great disaster arrives, each flies separately.
What it means
In times of crisis, even the closest couples may abandon eac...
In times of crisis, even the closest couples may abandon each other to save themselves. It is a cynical view of marriage under pressure.
Cultural context
This is the full version of the previous saying, often quoted to describe fair-weather relationships, especially in times of war or poverty.
When Chinese people say this
Someone might say this when a couple divorces after a financial crisis, or to warn that love is not always stronger than self-interest.
Why Chinese people say this
It expresses a hard truth about human nature. Chinese people use this saying to caution against blind trust in relationships, acknowledging that survival instinct can override love.
#marriage
#human-nature
#hard-times
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