Chinese Proverbs About Family
Family proverbs reflect the central place of kinship in traditional Chinese social life. A reliable explanation also needs context: harmony should not erase disagreement, and filial respect should not be presented as unlimited obedience.
滴水之恩，当涌泉相报
Remember even a small kindness and repay it generously.
family
患难见真情
Genuine loyalty and affection become visible in difficult times.
friendship
家和万事兴
Harmony at home creates a foundation for wider well-being and success.
family
百善孝为先
Respect and care for parents are treated as a foundational virtue.
family
在家靠父母，出门靠朋友
Family and trusted friends form essential networks of support.
family
礼尚往来
Courtesy and kindness should be reciprocated.
friendship
养儿方知父母恩
Caring for the next generation can deepen appreciation for what one’s own parents gave.
family
远亲不如近邻
In an immediate need, dependable people close at hand may offer more practical help than distant family.
family
家家有本难念的经
Every household has private difficulties that outsiders may not see or fully understand.
family
清官难断家务事
Private family disputes are often too layered for an outsider to settle simply.
family
相敬如宾
Partners sustain a relationship through mutual courtesy and respect.
love
执子之手，与子偕老
In modern usage, it expresses a promise of lifelong companionship.
love