相濡以沫 (xiāng rú yǐ mò) — to help each other with meager resources when both are in dire straits; mutual aid through hardship

Definition

A literary chengyu for two people sustaining each other in hardship — literally 'moistening each other with foam', evoking fish trapped in a drying pond. Used for couples, friends, or any deep bond forged through shared suffering.

idiom
to help each other with meager resources when both are in dire straitsmutual aid through hardship

Examples

  • 相濡以沫，。
    Fū qī èr rén zài zuì kùn nan de shí hou xiāng rú yǐ mò, zhōng yú áo guò lái le.
    The couple helped each other through the hardest times and finally made it through.
  • ，相濡以沫。
    Tā men jǐ shí nián de gǎn qíng, shì zài huàn nàn zhōng xiāng rú yǐ mò jiàn lì qǐ lái de.
    Their decades-long bond was built on mutual support through hardship.
  • 相濡以沫，。
    Lǎo yǒu zhī jiān xiāng rú yǐ mò de qíng yì, bǐ jīn qián gèng zhēn guì.
    The friendship between old friends who help each other in hard times is more precious than money.

Origin

Characters in this word

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
需
需xū濡rú
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

濡 pairs 水, the water part, with 需, which gives the sound.

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

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
末
末mò沫mò
Same sound today

沫 pairs 水 (water) with 末 (mò), where 水 marks the watery sense and 末 gives the sound.

Open 沫 →

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