This means that close family or friends should not be overly polite, formal, or distant with each other. It emphasizes treating each other with complete openness, as if you share one household.
In Chinese culture, family unity is paramount, and clear boundaries between close kin are often seen as cold or divisive. The saying reinforces the ideal of a single, undivided family unit.
This saying functions as a social equalizer and intimacy builder. By declaring 'we are one family,' the speaker signals absolute trust and belonging, breaking down barriers of politeness that might otherwise create emotional distance.
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