井水不犯河水

jǐngshuǐ bú fàn héshuǐ
proverb

Meanings

  1. 1 well water does not intrude on river water
  2. 2 to each mind one's own business; to keep out of each other's way

Examples

HSK 3
Yǐhòu nǐ zǒu nǐ de lù, wǒ zǒu wǒ de lù, zánmen jǐngshuǐ bú fàn héshuǐ.
From now on you go your way and I'll go mine. We'll stay out of each other's business.
HSK 7-9
Liǎng gè bùmén yíxiàng jǐngshuǐ bú fàn héshuǐ, zhè cì què wèile yùsuàn chǎo le qǐlai.
The two departments had always kept out of each other's way, but this time they got into a fight over the budget.

Tips

usage
Used to draw a line between two parties, as a truce or as a warning: each stays in its own place, like the water of a well and the water of a river. It already appears in 《红楼梦》.

Stroke Order

井 jǐng
水 shuǐ
不 bù
犯 fàn
河 hé