諺語 · a single proverb
兄弟齊心，其利斷金
Simplified: 兄弟齐心，其利断金
What does 兄弟齊心，其利斷金 (xiōng dì qí xīn qí lì duàn jīn) mean?
兄弟齊心，其利斷金 (xiōng dì qí xīn qí lì duàn jīn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "brothers unified in heart, their sharpness cuts metal." In use it means: When family members stand together with one mind, they can overcome any obstacle. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Tiger.
Literally: "brothers unified in heart, their sharpness cuts metal."
The reading
No single blade is sharper than two that are aligned. The same force distributed across a unified edge cuts through what one blade alone cannot begin. Family that stands together multiplies what each one carries alone.
What kind of proverb it is
Source I Ching 易經, Xi Ci 繫辭 commentary
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Home, Family & Roots, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Tiger, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 兄弟齊心，其利斷金 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 兄弟齊心，其利斷金 (xiōng dì qí xīn qí lì duàn jīn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from I Ching 易經, Xi Ci 繫辭 commentary. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 兄弟齊心，其利斷金?
In Mandarin it is xiōng dì qí xīn qí lì duàn jīn. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 兄弟齊心，其利斷金 aloud in Mandarin.