唇齿相依

唇齒相依

chúnchǐxiāngyī

idiom #56,209

Meanings

1 as close as lips and teeth
2 closely interdependent
3 mutually reliant and inseparable

Characters

Examples

两国地理相邻，经济上唇齿相依。

Liǎng guó dìlǐ xiānglín, jīngjì shàng chúnchǐxiāngyī.

The two countries are geographical neighbors and economically interdependent.

他们俩从小一起长大，感情唇齿相依。

Tāmen liǎ cóng xiǎo yì qǐ zhǎng dà, gǎnqíng chúnchǐxiāngyī.

The two of them grew up together and are as close as lips and teeth.

制造业和物流业唇齿相依，谁也离不开谁。

Zhìzàoyè hé wùliúyè chúnchǐxiāngyī, shéi yě lí bu kāi shéi.

Manufacturing and logistics are mutually dependent — neither can do without the other.

Tips

history

Appears in the Three Kingdoms-era 《三国志·魏书·鲍勋传》 describing the alliance between Wu and Shu: 吴、蜀唇齿相依 — 'Wu and Shu are as close as lips and teeth.' Related to 唇亡齿寒 (if the lips perish, the teeth grow cold), which emphasizes the danger when one side falls.

usage

Formal tone. Used for nations, allied industries, interdependent regions, or deeply bonded relationships. Stronger and more poetic than 密不可分 (inseparably close).

Stroke Order

唇 chún

齿 chǐ

相 xiāng

依 yī