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家丑不可外扬

Jiā chǒu bùkě wài yáng
Don't air your family's dirty laundry in public.

Family ugliness cannot be spread outside.

This saying advises keeping family problems, conflicts, or s...

This saying advises keeping family problems, conflicts, or shameful incidents private. It emphasizes protecting the family's reputation and handling internal issues internally rather than exposing them to outsiders.

In Chinese culture, family face (面子) is extremely important, and the family unit is seen as a cohesive entity whose reputation must be protected. Publicly revealing family issues brings shame to the entire family.

Someone might say this when a family member is about to share a private family dispute with neighbors or on social media, or when advising someone to resolve issues privately.

This saying reinforces the cultural priority on family unity and face preservation. It signals that family matters are sacred and should be resolved within the family, maintaining external harmony and reputation.

#family #face #social-rules

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