亲如一家 (qīn rú yì jiā) — to be as close as family; to treat each other like family members

Definition

Idiom meaning people who are not related feel as close as family — neighbors, coworkers, roommates. Implies warm, harmonious relationships built over time.

idiom
to be as close as familyto treat each other like family members

Examples

  • ，亲如一家。
    Wǒ men suī rán shì lín jū, dàn yǐ jīng qīn rú yì jiā le.
    Although we are neighbors, we've already become as close as family.
  • ，亲如一家。
    Zài zhè jiā gōng sī gōng zuò shí nián, tóng shì zhī jiān qīn rú yì jiā.
    After working at this company for ten years, colleagues are as dear to each other as family.
  • ，亲如一家。
    Dà jiā zhù zài yì qǐ jiǔ le, zì rán jiù qīn rú yì jiā.
    After living together for a long time, people naturally become as close as family.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 親; 亲 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
見見jiànsee
Sound part声符shēngfú
辛
辛xīn親qīn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 親 uses 見 (see) for sense and 辛 (a chisel) for sound; the simplified 亲 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 亲 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ如rú
Same sound today

如 is built from 口 (mouth) for its meaning and 女 (woman) for its sound.

Open 如 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢑓
𢑓𢑓家jiā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The early drawing of 家 showed a roof 宀 over a male-pig sign 𢑓 that gave the pronunciation; the lower part later changed shape.

Open 家 →

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