每天成语
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相依为命

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: xiāng yī wéi mìng
  • English Translation: To depend on each other for survival
  • Idiom Composition: 「相」（Mutually; each other）＋「依」（To lean on; to depend on）＋「为」（To act as; to be）＋「命」（Life; survival）
  • Meaning: To rely on one another as the sole means of survival. It describes a situation where two or more individuals are in a difficult or lonely environment and have no one else to turn to but each other, forming an inseparable bond.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「相依为命」 contains the following nuances:

  • Indispensable Relationship: This term does not just mean 'getting along well'; it implies a level of dependency where one party feels they cannot survive without the other.
  • Shared Adversity: The idiom is almost always used in the context of hardship, such as poverty, disaster, or social isolation, highlighting the emotional weight of the bond.

3. Usage

「相依为命」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Family Bonds: Most frequently used when remaining family members, such as an orphan and a grandparent, must support each other after losing others.
    • Example:「自从父母去世后，他和奶奶便相依为命，过着清贫的生活。」
      （Since his parents passed away, he and his grandmother have depended on each other for survival, living a simple and frugal life.)
  • Relationship with Pets: In modern contexts, it describes a person living alone who considers their pet as their only family and source of support.
    • Example:「这位独居老人只有一只老猫陪伴，多年来一人一猫相依为命。」
      （This elderly person living alone has only an old cat for company; the two of them have been each other's sole support for many years.)
  • Metaphorical Usage: Occasionally used to describe two objects or an object and a person that are inextricably linked.
    • Example:「在这个荒岛上，只有这座灯塔与守塔人相依为命。」
      （On this deserted island, only this lighthouse shares a life of mutual dependence with the keeper.)

Additional Examples:

  1. 在那段艰难的战争岁月里，这对夫妻相依为命，终于熬到了和平。
    （During those difficult years of war, the couple depended on each other for survival and finally made it to a time of peace.）
  2. 虽然没有血缘关系，但这两个孤儿在福利院里相依为命，比亲兄弟还亲。
    （Although not related by blood, these two orphans supported each other through thick and thin in the orphanage, becoming closer than real brothers.）
  3. 由于子女都在国外，这对老夫妇只能在国内相依为命。
    （Since their children are all abroad, this elderly couple has no choice but to rely solely on each other at home.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • The idiom originates from the Memorial to the Emperor (陈情表) written by Li Mi (李密) during the Jin Dynasty. He wrote it to decline a government post so he could care for his elderly grandmother, stating that the two of them 'depended on each other for their very lives.' His sincere devotion moved the Emperor.
  • Emotional Nuance: This is a highly evocative expression that often elicits sympathy or admiration. It suggests a 'survival-level' connection rather than a simple partnership.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

相依为命 (xiāng yī wéi mìng) is a poignant idiom describing a deep, vital bond between individuals who support each other through hardship. Originating from the classic text Memorial to the Emperor (陈情表), it emphasizes a relationship where survival depends on mutual reliance. It is most commonly used to describe the relationship between family members (such as a grandparent and grandchild) or a person and a beloved pet in challenging circumstances.

Idiom Essay

xiāng yī wéi mìng
相依为命
Depending on Each Other for Survival
zài在zhè ge这个shì jiè世界shàng上，rén人yǔ与rén人de的guān xì关系yǒu有hěn很duō zhǒng多种。

In this world, there are many types of relationships between people.

yǒu有de的xiàng像jù huì聚会yī yàng一样rè nào热闹，yǒu有de的xiàng像yān huǒ烟火yī yàng一样duǎn zàn短暂。

Some are as lively as a party, while others are as fleeting as fireworks.

dàn但hái还yǒu有yī zhǒng一种guān xì关系，tā它fēi cháng非常ān jìng安静，què却bǐ比rèn hé任何shì yán誓言dōu都yào要chén zhòng沉重。

But there is another kind of relationship that is very quiet, yet heavier than any vow.

zhōng wén中文lǐ里，yǒu有yí gè一个chéng yǔ成语zhuān mén专门yòng lái用来xíng róng形容zhè zhǒng这种shēn chén深沉de的lián jié联结，jiào叫“xiāng yī wéi mìng相依为命”。

In Chinese, there is an idiom specifically used to describe this deep connection called 相依为命.

zhè这sì gè四个zì字，chāi kāi拆开lái来kàn看fēi cháng非常yǒu有huà miàn画面gǎn感。

These four characters are very vivid when broken down.

“xiāng yī相依”，shì是hù xiāng互相yī kào依靠，xiàng像liǎng kē两棵shù树chán rào缠绕zài在yì qǐ一起；ér而“wèi为mìng命”，shì是bǎ把duì fāng对方dàng zuò当作shēng mìng生命。

相依 means to rely on each other, like two trees entwined together; while 为命 means to treat the other person as one's life.

hé合qǐ lái起来，yì si意思jiù shì就是：zhǐ yǒu只有yī kào依靠zhe着duì fāng对方，cái néng才能zài在zhè ge这个shì jiè世界shàng上huó xià qù活下去。

Combined, it means: only by relying on each other can one survive in this world.

qǐng请zhù yì注意，wǒ men我们hěn很shǎo少yòng用“xiāng yī wéi mìng相依为命”lái来xíng róng形容gāng gāng刚刚kāi shǐ开始de的rè liàn热恋，huò zhě或者yī qún一群kāi xīn开心de的péng yǒu朋友。

Please note that we rarely use 相依为命 to describe a new romance or a group of happy friends.

zhè ge这个cí词，wǎng wǎng往往dài yǒu带有yì diǎn diǎn一点点gū dú孤独de的dǐ sè底色。

This term often carries a slight undertone of loneliness.

tā它tōng cháng通常chū xiàn出现zài在shì jiè世界biàn dé变得kōng kuàng空旷、huò zhě或者shēng huó生活biàn dé变得jiān nán艰难de的shí hòu时候。

It usually appears when the world becomes empty or when life becomes difficult.

bǐ rú比如，yī wèi一位nián mài年迈de的lǎo rén老人，hé和yī zhī一只péi bàn陪伴le了tā他shí nián十年de的lǎo老gǒu狗；huò zhě或者，yí gè一个shī qù失去le了fù mǔ父母de的hái zi孩子，hé和tā他de的zǔ mǔ祖母shēng huó生活zài在yì qǐ一起。

For example, an elderly person and an old dog that has accompanied them for ten years; or a child who has lost their parents living with their grandmother.

zài在bié rén别人de的yǎn lǐ眼里，tā men他们kě néng可能hěn很gū dān孤单、hěn很ruò xiǎo弱小；dàn但zài在tā men他们bǐ cǐ彼此de的yǎn lǐ眼里，duì fāng对方jiù shì就是zhěng gè整个shì jiè世界。

In the eyes of others, they might seem lonely or weak; but in each other's eyes, the other person is the entire world.

suǒ yǐ所以，“xiāng yī wéi mìng相依为命”miáo shù描述de的，bù jǐn jǐn不仅仅shì是“zài在yì qǐ一起”，ér shì而是yī zhǒng一种“wéi yī唯一de的zhī chēng支撑”。

Therefore, 相依为命 describes not just being together, but a kind of unique support.

tā它shuō说de的shì是：suī rán虽然wài miàn外面de的shì jiè世界hěn很dà大，fēng yǔ风雨kě néng可能yě也hěn很dà大，dàn但zhǐ yào只要wǒ men我们liǎng gè两个zài在yì qǐ一起，wǒ我jiù就yǒu有yǒng qì勇气miàn duì面对míng tiān明天。

It says: although the outside world is vast and the storms may be great, as long as the two of us are together, I have the courage to face tomorrow.

rú guǒ如果shī qù失去le了nǐ你，wǒ我de的shēng mìng生命jiù就bù zài不再wán zhěng完整。

If I lose you, my life will no longer be complete.

xià cì下次，dāng当nǐ你kàn dào看到jiē jiǎo街角yǒu有liǎng两gè个shēn yǐng身影hù xiāng互相chān fú搀扶zhe着màn màn慢慢zǒu走yuǎn远，huò zhě或者tīng dào听到guān yú关于nà zhǒng那种bù lí bù qì不离不弃de的gù shì故事shí时，nǐ你kě yǐ可以xiǎng qǐ想起zhè ge这个cí词。

Next time, when you see two figures supporting each other as they walk away at a street corner, or hear a story about never giving up on someone, you can think of this word.

yīn wèi因为zài在nà ge那个shí kè时刻，tā men他们bù jǐn jǐn不仅仅shì是jiā rén家人，tā men他们shì是zài在“xiāng yī wéi mìng相依为命”。

Because at that moment, they are not just family; they are 相依为命.

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