兄弟阋墙
xiōng dì xì qiáng
brothers quarrelling at home; strife within a family or a group
Character by character
兄xiōng
elder brother
elder brother
弟dì
younger brother
younger brother
阋xì
quarrel
quarrel
墙qiáng
walls
walls
Example
兄弟阋墙，最后得利的往往是外人。
When brothers fight among themselves, it is usually outsiders who end up the winners.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
From the Book of Songs (《诗经·小雅·常棣》): 兄弟阋于墙，外御其务 (务 = 侮), brothers may quarrel within the walls but join to fight off insults from outside. 阋 (xì) is rare outside this idiom. Written and formal; it is also used of rival factions in one company, party or country.
Learn this in Lesson 195 · HSK 7–9: 遗嘱与继承 (Wills and inheritance: a legal advice column)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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