Marriage Easy

嫁汉嫁汉，穿衣吃饭

jià hàn jià hàn, chuān yī chī fàn

Marry a man for food and clothing.

Literal translation

Marry a man, marry a man—wear clothes, eat meals.

What it means

In traditional thinking, a woman married primarily for mater...

In traditional thinking, a woman married primarily for material security—the husband was expected to provide for her basic needs. It reflects a pragmatic view of marriage as an economic arrangement.

Cultural context

Historically, women had few economic opportunities and depended on husbands for survival. Marriage was often a practical necessity rather than purely romantic.

When Chinese people say this

Someone might say this when discussing why a woman chose a stable, hardworking man over a charming but unreliable one, or when acknowledging the economic realities of marriage in old times.

Why Chinese people say this

This saying captures the traditional gender contract: the husband provides, the wife manages the home. It signals that marriage was as much about survival as about love, and that a man's ability to provide was paramount.

#marriage #money #hard-times

Discover More Chinese Sayings

Draw random cards from hundreds of real Chinese folk sayings and proverbs. Each flip reveals what Chinese people actually mean.

🎴 Play Chinese Wisdom Cards