This means that family conflicts are so complex and emotionally charged that even the most fair and wise outsider cannot truly understand or resolve them. It acknowledges that the truth in family matters is often tangled and subjective.
In Chinese culture, family relationships are deeply hierarchical and intertwined with face and emotion. Outsiders, no matter how well-intentioned, lack the context of years of shared history and unspoken rules.
This saying serves as a warning to avoid meddling in others' family affairs and as a comfort to those who feel frustrated by unresolved family issues. It signals that some problems are not meant to be solved by logic alone, and that privacy and emotional bonds often trump external judgment.
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