相依為命
Chinese
| to depend on each other; to be interdependent | because of; for; to because of; for; to; act as; take...to be; to be; to do; to serve as; to become |
life; fate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (相依為命/相依爲命) | 相依 | 為/爲 | 命 | |
| simp. (相依为命) | 相依 | 为 | 命 | |
| alternative forms | 相須為命／相须为命 相倚為命／相倚为命 相與為命／相与为命 | |||
Pronunciation
- Mandarin
- Cantonese (Jyutping): soeng1 ji1 wai4 ming6
- Southern Min (Teochew, Peng'im): siang1 i1 ui5 mian7
- Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Hanyu Pinyin: xiāngyīwéimìng
- Zhuyin: ㄒㄧㄤ ㄧ ㄨㄟˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ
- Tongyong Pinyin: siangyiwéimìng
- Wade–Giles: hsiang1-i1-wei2-ming4
- Yale: syāng-yī-wéi-mìng
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shiangiweiminq
- Palladius: сянъивэймин (sjanʺivɛjmin)
- Sinological IPA (key): /ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ i⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵ miŋ⁵¹/
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)+
- Jyutping: soeng1 ji1 wai4 ming6
- Yale: sēung yī wàih mihng
- Cantonese Pinyin: soeng1 ji1 wai4 ming6
- Guangdong Romanization: sêng1 yi1 wei4 ming6
- Sinological IPA (key): /sœːŋ⁵⁵ jiː⁵⁵ wɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²²/
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)+
- Southern Min
- (Teochew)
- Peng'im: siang1 i1 ui5 mian7
- Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: siang i ûi miāⁿ
- Sinological IPA (key): /siaŋ³³⁻²³ i³³⁻²³ ui⁵⁵⁻¹¹ mĩã¹¹/
- (Teochew)
Idiom
相依為命
- to depend on each other for survival; to rely on one another for life
Usage notes
Usually said of siblings whose parents have deceased, or a parent and a child when the other parent is no longer around, etc.