携家带口

攜家帶口
xiéjiādàikǒu
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to take one's whole family along
  2. 2 encumbered by family obligations
  3. 3 tied down by a family

Examples

Tā xié jiā dài kǒu bān dào le xīn chéngshì.
He moved to a new city with his whole family in tow.
Chūchāi hái xié jiā dài kǒu de, tài máfan le.
Bringing the whole family along on a business trip is too much hassle.

Tips

usage
Often carries a slight tone of inconvenience or being weighed down. Use 全家出动 (quánjiā chūdòng, 'the whole family turns out') if you want a more positive, festive flavor.
memory
Picture (carry) + (home) + (bring) + (mouths to feed) — literally hauling your home and all its mouths along with you.

Stroke Order

xié
jiā
dài
kǒu