相敬如宾

相敬如賓

xiāngjìngrúbīn

idiom #73,248

Meanings

1 to treat each other as honored guests
2 a married couple showing mutual respect
3 polite and respectful as if guests to one another

Characters

Examples

这对夫妻几十年相敬如宾。

Zhè duì fūqī jǐshí nián xiāng jìng rú bīn.

This couple has treated each other with guest-like respect for decades.

他们相敬如宾，从不争吵。

Tāmen xiāng jìng rú bīn, cóng bù zhēngchǎo.

They treat each other as honored guests and never quarrel.

婚姻不仅要相敬如宾，还要真诚相爱。

Hūnyīn bùjǐn yào xiāng jìng rú bīn, hái yào zhēnchéng xiāng'ài.

Marriage needs not only mutual respect but also genuine love.

Tips

history

From 《左传·僖公三十三年》: the Jin official Jiu Ji passes through Ji and sees Xi Que weeding while his wife brings him his meal — 敬，相待如宾 ('with respect, treating each other as guests'). Jiu Ji recognizes his virtue and recommends him to the Jin court.

Stroke Order

相 xiāng

敬 jìng

如 rú

宾 bīn