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chún 唇 wáng 亡 chǐ 齿 hán 寒

唇亡齿寒 chún wáng chǐ hán

if the lips are gone the teeth will be cold; interdependent parties share each other's fate

Literally: lips gone teeth cold

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Origin

From the Zuozhuan (Duke Xi, 5th year): Gong Zhiqi warns the ruler of Yu that if Jin is allowed to destroy Guo, Yu will fall next, as teeth grow cold without lips.

How to use it

Predicate or attributive; neutral, used in warnings. Often 唇亡齿寒的关系 or 唇亡齿寒的道理.

Example sentences

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  1. 两国唇亡齿寒，一方受到威胁，另一方也难以独善其身。
    Liǎng guó chún wáng chǐ hán, yì fāng shòudào wēixié, lìng yì fāng yě nányǐ dú shàn qí shēn.
    The two countries are interdependent: if one is threatened, the other can hardly remain unaffected.
    two country lips gone teeth cold, one side receive threat, other one side also hard alone perfect its self
  2. 供应商和厂家是唇亡齿寒的关系，谁也离不开谁。
    Gōngyìngshāng hé chǎngjiā shì chún wáng chǐ hán de guānxi, shéi yě lí bu kāi shéi.
    Suppliers and manufacturers are bound together like lips and teeth; neither can do without the other.
    supplier and manufacturer is lips gone teeth cold (attributive particle) relationship, who also leave not open who

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