This saying describes an ideal marital relationship where husband and wife treat each other with the same courtesy, respect, and politeness they would show to an honored guest. It emphasizes mutual esteem and consideration over familiarity or dominance.
This phrase originates from the Confucian classic 'Zuo Zhuan' and has been a standard for marital harmony in Chinese culture for over two thousand years. It reflects the Confucian value of propriety (礼) in all relationships, including the most intimate one.
This saying promotes a vision of marriage as a partnership of equals, where respect is the foundation of love. It signals a rejection of possessive or disrespectful behavior in marriage, encouraging couples to maintain a certain formality that prevents contempt.
Draw random cards from hundreds of real Chinese folk sayings and proverbs. Each flip reveals what Chinese people actually mean.
🎴 Play Chinese Wisdom Cards