息息相通 (xī xī xiāng tōng) — be closely linked; be intimately connected; share a vital bond

Definition

A chengyu meaning two things are so deeply intertwined that each shares the same 'breath' or spirit — a stronger, more literary way to say they are closely linked.

idiom
be closely linkedbe intimately connectedshare a vital bond

Examples

  • 息息相通，。
    Jīng jì fā zhǎn yǔ huán jìng bǎo hù xī xī xiāng tōng, bù kě fēn gē.
    Economic development and environmental protection are closely linked and inseparable.
  • 息息相通，。
    Zhè liǎng jiā gōng sī lì yì xī xī xiāng tōng, hé zuò fēi cháng jǐn mì.
    The interests of these two companies are intimately connected, and they cooperate very closely.
  • 息息相通，。
    Yǔ yán yǔ wén huà xī xī xiāng tōng, xué xí yǔ yán bì xū liǎo jiě wén huà.
    Language and culture are closely linked; to learn a language you must understand its culture.

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.

息息breath after breath
息xībreath息xībreath
重叠Reduplication
相通mutually connected
相xiāngmutually通tōngconnect
偏正Modifier + head

The breath after breath in 息息 and mutual connection in 相通 show a close bond.

Characters in this word

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

In 息, 自 is nose and 心 is heart, showing breath or life passing through one's nose.

Open 息 →

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

In 息, 自 is nose and 心 is heart, showing breath or life passing through one's nose.

Open 息 →

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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng通tōng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

通 pairs 辶, a part associated with movement, with 甬, which gives the sound.

Open 通 →

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