守望相助 (shǒu wàng xiāng zhù) — (chengyu) to help and protect each other; mutual assistance and support (within a community)

Definition

A chengyu describing neighbors or community members watching out for and helping each other, especially in times of need. Often used to praise mutual support in tight-knit communities.

idiom
(chengyu) to help and protect each othermutual assistance and support (within a community)

Examples

  • ，守望相助，。
    Zài zhè ge shè qū lǐ, jū mín men shǒu wàng xiāng zhù, guān xì fēi cháng róng qià.
    In this community, residents help and protect each other, and their relationships are very harmonious.
  • ，守望相助，。
    Dì zhèn fā shēng hòu, dà jiā shǒu wàng xiāng zhù, gòng dù nán guān.
    After the earthquake struck, everyone helped each other to get through the difficulty.
  • 守望相助，。
    Lín lǐ zhī jiān yīng gāi shǒu wàng xiāng zhù, zhè yàng shēng huó cái huì gèng ān quán.
    Neighbors should help and protect each other; only then will life be safer.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

守望watch and guard
守shǒuguard望wàngwatch
联合Side by side
相助help each other
相xiāngmutually助zhùhelp
偏正Modifier + head

守望 joins 守 for guarding and 望 for watching, while 相助 joins 助 for help and 相 for one another.

Characters in this word

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

  • 宀宀miánroof; building
  • 寸寸cùnhand

守 pairs 宀, a roof or building, with 寸, a hand, to show a hand guarding a place.

Open 守 →

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

  • 臣臣chéneye
  • 𡈼𡈼𡈼person standing on the ground

望 originally showed 臣 (eye) beside 𡈼 (person standing on the ground): a person standing up and looking off into the distance. Later 月 was added, and the 臣 part became 亡.

Open 望 →

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
力力lìstrong arm
Sound part声符shēngfú
且
且qiě助zhù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

助 pairs 力, a strong arm, with 且, which gives the sound; the meaning is help with strength.

Open 助 →

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