幼吾幼以及人之幼

Yòu wú yòu yǐ jí rén zhī yòu

quotation

Meanings

1 to care for one's own young, and extend that care to the young of others
2 to treat all children as one's own

Characters

to cherish as young / the young

Examples

HSK 4

幼吾幼以及人之幼，让每个孩子都能接受良好的教育。

Yòuwúyòuyǐjírénzhīyòu, ràng měige háizi dōu néng jiēshòu liánghǎo de jiàoyù.

Treat all children as our own - let every child receive a good education.

HSK 7-9

社区倡导老吾老以及人之老，幼吾幼以及人之幼。

Shèqū chàngdǎo lǎowúlǎoyǐjírénzhīlǎo, yòuwúyòuyǐjírénzhīyòu.

The community promotes caring for all elders and all children as if they were our own.

Tips

history

From Mencius (《孟子·梁惠王上》), the second half of the pair with 老吾老以及人之老: 老吾老，以及人之老；幼吾幼，以及人之幼 - 'Honor my elders and extend that to others' elders; cherish my young and extend that to others' young.' The classical statement of extending familial love outward into universal benevolence.

usage

Nearly always paired with 老吾老以及人之老. Used in discussions of education policy, child welfare, and community ethics.

Stroke Order

幼 yòu

吾 wú

以 yǐ

及 jí

人 rén

之 zhī