门风 (ménfēng): family tradition

Meanings

1 family tradition
2 family principles / reputation passed down within a household

Characters

门

wind / atmosphere / style

Examples

他们家门风严谨，子女个个有礼貌。

Tāmen jiā ménfēng yánjǐn, zǐnǚ gègè yǒu lǐmào.

Their family has a strict tradition; every one of the children is well-mannered.

千万别做有损门风的事。

Qiānwàn bié zuò yǒu sǔn ménfēng de shì.

Whatever you do, don't do anything that damages the family's reputation.

Tips

culture

Literally 'gate-wind' — the 'air' that pervades a household. In traditional Chinese culture a family's 门风 covers its moral standards, manners, and even marriage prospects, since matchmakers historically vetted the 门风 of both sides before approving a match.