门当户对

門當戶對
méndāng-hùduì
idiom HSK 7-9 #42,823

Meanings

  1. 1 well-matched in social status (of families)
  2. 2 an appropriate match for marriage

Examples

HSK 4
Xiànzài de niánqīngrén bùtài jiǎngjiu méndānghùduì le.
Young people nowadays don't care as much about matching family backgrounds.
HSK 5
Lǎoyībèi rén juéde jiéhūn yào méndānghùduì.
The older generation believes marriages should be between families of equal status.

Tips

history
门当 and 户对 were originally architectural features on traditional gates - stone drums (门当) and wooden blocks (户对) indicated a family's social rank. Matching these meant the families were of equal status.
culture
This concept remains influential in Chinese marriage culture. Parents often consider family background, education, and wealth when evaluating potential partners for their children.

Stroke Order

mén
dāng
duì