soeng1 jyu4 ji5 mut6相濡以沫
Jyutpingsoeng1 jyu4 ji5 mut6
Yalesēung yùh yíh muht
Definition
To help each other in times of hardship or crisis.
writtenpeopleemotion
How it's used
Originating from a classic Zhuangzi parable about fish gasping for air in a drying puddle, this idiom carries a poetic and slightly literary weight. It is rarely used in casual, everyday banter, appearing more frequently in written media, formal speeches, or when reflecting deeply on a long-term relationship. It specifically highlights the beauty of mutual support during times of scarcity or extreme difficulty.
Examples
The couple supported each other through thick and thin and got through many hardships.
In this environment, we need to support each other even more.
Related words
Common phrases
a relationship built on mutual support through hardship
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for helping friends, but it is strictly reserved for situations involving shared adversity or survival. Using it to describe simple cooperation or routine assistance sounds overly dramatic and unnatural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
