唇齿相依 (chún chǐ xiāng yī) — (idiom) mutually dependent, interdependent like lips and teeth

Definition

Idiom for two parties so closely linked that each depends on the other for survival — like lips and teeth. Used for close allies, partners, or neighbors whose fates are tied together.

idiom
mutually dependent, interdependent like lips and teeth

Examples

  • 唇齿相依，，。
    Zhè liǎng gè guó jiā chún chǐ xiāng yī, yì róng jù róng, yì sǔn jù sǔn.
    These two countries are as interdependent as lips and teeth — if one prospers, both prosper; if one suffers, both suffer.
  • ，唇齿相依，。
    Zài shāng yè hé zuò zhōng, shuāng fāng chún chǐ xiāng yī, shuí yě lí bù kāi shuí.
    In business cooperation, the two sides are mutually dependent — neither can do without the other.
  • 唇齿相依，。
    Tā men gōng sī hé wǒ men chún chǐ xiāng yī, hé zuò cái néng gòng yíng.
    Their company and ours are interdependent like lips and teeth; only through cooperation can we both win.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

唇齿lips and teeth
唇chúnlip齿chǐtooth
联合Side by side
相依mutually depend
相xiāngmutually依yīdepend
偏正Modifier + head

唇 and 齿 (lips and teeth) 相依 (mutually depend), expressing interdependence.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
辰
辰chén唇
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

唇 is built from 口, meaning mouth, and 辰, which points to its sound.

Open 唇 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 齒; 齿 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 齒 originally drew a mouth full of teeth, and later gained a part that gives a clue to its sound. The simplified 齿 is a later shorthand.

Open 齿 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

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
亻Written in full as人rénhuman
Sound part声符shēngfú
衣
衣yī依yī
Same sound today

依 is made from 亻, a person, plus 衣, which gives its sound.

Open 依 →

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