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儿大不由娘

ér dà bù yóu niáng
A grown son no longer obeys his mother.

Child grown, not controlled by mother.

Once children grow up, they make their own decisions and par...

Once children grow up, they make their own decisions and parents can no longer control them. It expresses the bittersweet reality of children gaining independence.

In traditional Chinese families, parents had strong authority over children. This saying acknowledges the natural shift in power as children mature, often said with a sigh of resignation.

Someone might say this when a mother complains that her adult child is making life choices she disagrees with, like marrying someone she doesn't approve of.

It's a realistic acknowledgment of the limits of parental authority. Chinese parents invest heavily in their children, so this saying helps them accept the inevitable separation with grace.

#family #human-nature

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