Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== hémù: 和睦 - Harmonious, Concordant, Peaceful (in relationships) ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** hémù, 和睦, Chinese harmony, harmonious relationship, peaceful family, getting along well in Chinese, 和睦相处, family harmony, concordant, peaceful coexistence, Chinese culture. * **Summary:** 和睦 (hémù) is a fundamental Chinese term describing a state of harmony and peace within relationships, especially in families and communities. More than just "getting along," 和睦 reflects a deep cultural value for stable, respectful, and conflict-free coexistence. This page explores the meaning of 和睦, its cultural significance in China, and how to use it accurately to describe a harmonious relationship, from a peaceful family life to friendly international relations. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** hémù * **Part of Speech:** Adjective, Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 * **Concise Definition:** Describes a state of being harmonious, peaceful, and on friendly terms, particularly in relationships between people. * **In a Nutshell:** Think of 和睦 (hémù) as the calm, steady, and respectful peace that exists in a healthy relationship. It’s not about passionate friendship or boisterous fun, but rather the absence of conflict and the presence of mutual understanding and goodwill. It is the ideal state for a family, a neighborhood, or even between countries. It represents a smooth, tranquil dynamic where everyone coexists peacefully. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **和 (hé):** This character is central to Chinese philosophy and means "harmony," "peace," or "and." It is composed of 禾 (hé), meaning "grain," and 口 (kǒu), meaning "mouth." The ancient pictograph suggests that when everyone has grain to eat and can speak, there is peace and harmony. * **睦 (mù):** This character means "harmonious," "friendly," or "kind." It is composed of the radical 目 (mù), meaning "eye," on the left. The right side contributes to the sound and meaning. The "eye" component suggests looking upon others with a kind, friendly, and gentle gaze. * When combined, **和睦 (hémù)** creates a powerful image: the broad concept of **和 (hé)** harmony is specified by **睦 (mù)** to refer to the way people look at and treat each other. It means living together in a state of mutual, friendly peace. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * In Chinese culture, influenced heavily by Confucianism, the family (家, jiā) is the bedrock of society. The state of the family is seen as a microcosm of the state of the nation. Therefore, achieving a **和睦 (hémù)** family is not just a personal goal but a social virtue. The famous idiom **家和万事兴 (jiā hé wàn shì xīng)**—"If the family is in harmony, all affairs will prosper"—perfectly encapsulates this belief. A 和睦 family is one where members respect each other (especially elders), fulfill their roles, and prioritize group well-being over individual desires to avoid conflict. * **Comparison to Western Concepts:** A useful comparison is between 和睦 and the Western ideal of "open communication." In many Western cultures, it's considered healthy to voice disagreements openly and "clear the air," even if it involves confrontation. The traditional goal of 和睦, however, often prioritizes maintaining surface-level peace and avoiding direct conflict altogether. It values a smooth, predictable social fabric over the sometimes-messy process of individual expression. This doesn't mean problems are ignored, but they are often handled with much greater subtlety and indirectness to preserve the harmony of the group. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * 和睦 is a somewhat formal and highly positive word. It's used to describe an ideal state of relationships in various contexts. * **Family and Marriage:** This is the most common usage. It's used to describe good relationships between spouses (夫妻和睦, fūqī hémù), siblings, or the entire family. It is a common wish given at weddings or New Year's celebrations. * **Community Relations:** The term is frequently used to describe good relationships between neighbors (邻里和睦, línlǐ hémù). You will often see this phrase on community bulletin boards and in government slogans promoting a harmonious society. * **Formal and International Relations:** In formal or written contexts, 和睦 can describe peaceful and friendly relations between different ethnic groups or even countries (e.g., "to maintain harmonious diplomatic ties"). ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我们家一直很**和睦**，很少吵架。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen jiā yīzhí hěn **hémù**, hěn shǎo chǎojià. * English: Our family has always been very harmonious; we rarely argue. * Analysis: This is a classic example of using 和睦 to describe the peaceful state of a family. * **Example 2:** * 夫妻**和睦**是幸福家庭的基础。 * Pinyin: Fūqī **hémù** shì xìngfú jiātíng de jīchǔ. * English: A harmonious relationship between husband and wife is the foundation of a happy family. * Analysis: This sentence uses 和睦 as a core concept, treating it as a prerequisite for a happy family life. * **Example 3:** * 他们兄弟姐妹之间的关系非常**和睦**。 * Pinyin: Tāmen xiōngdì jiěmèi zhī jiān de guānxì fēicháng **hémù**. * English: The relationship between the siblings is extremely harmonious. * Analysis: This shows how 和睦 can describe the relationship between a specific subset of a family. * **Example 4:** * 我们小区的邻里关系十分**和睦**。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen xiǎoqū de línlǐ guānxì shífēn **hémù**. * English: The neighborly relations in our residential community are very harmonious. * Analysis: Here, the context expands from the immediate family to the wider community. * **Example 5:** * 一个**和睦**的工作环境能提高团队的效率。 * Pinyin: Yīgè **hémù** de gōngzuò huánjìng néng tígāo tuánduì de xiàolǜ. * English: A harmonious working environment can increase a team's efficiency. * Analysis: This demonstrates that 和睦 can also apply to non-family groups, like colleagues in an office. * **Example 6:** * 祝你们家庭**和睦**，生活幸福。 * Pinyin: Zhù nǐmen jiātíng **hémù**, shēnghuó xìngfú. * English: I wish your family harmony and a happy life. * Analysis: A very common blessing or wish given to others, especially newlyweds or during holidays. * **Example 7:** * 家和万事兴，家庭**和睦**最重要。 * Pinyin: Jiā hé wàn shì xīng, jiātíng **hémù** zuì zhòngyào. * English: When the family is in harmony, all affairs prosper; family harmony is the most important thing. * Analysis: This connects 和睦 directly to the famous cultural idiom, showing its deep-seated importance. * **Example 8:** * 两国一直保持着**和睦**的邦交关系。 * Pinyin: Liǎng guó yīzhí bǎochí zhe **hémù** de bāngjiāo guānxì. * English: The two countries have always maintained harmonious diplomatic relations. * Analysis: This is a formal, diplomatic use of the term, highlighting its use in high-level contexts. * **Example 9:** * 他一生追求内心的平静与家庭的**和睦**。 * Pinyin: Tā yīshēng zhuīqiú nèixīn de píngjìng yǔ jiātíng de **hémù**. * English: He spent his life pursuing inner peace and family harmony. * Analysis: Here, 和睦 is used as a noun, representing the abstract concept or goal of harmony. * **Example 10:** * 他们一家人和睦相处，从不吵架。 * Pinyin: Tāmen yījiārén **hémù** xiāngchǔ, cóngbù chǎojià. * English: Their family lives together in harmony and never quarrels. * Analysis: This uses the common four-character phrase 和睦相处 (hémù xiāngchǔ), which functions like a verb phrase meaning "to get along harmoniously." ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **和睦 (hémù) vs. 和平 (hépíng):** This is a critical distinction. * **和睦 (hémù)** is for **interpersonal relationships**: families, neighbors, colleagues. * **和平 (hépíng)** means "peace" in the sense of **absence of war or major conflict**. It's used for countries and the world. * //Incorrect:// 世界很**和睦**。 (Shìjiè hěn hémù.) -> The world is very harmonious. * //Correct:// 我们希望世界**和平**。 (Wǒmen xīwàng shìjiè hépíng.) -> We hope for world peace. * //Correct:// 我们的家庭很**和睦**。 (Wǒmen de jiātíng hěn hémù.) -> Our family is very harmonious. * **和睦 (hémù) vs. 关系好 (guānxì hǎo):** * **关系好 (guānxì hǎo)** just means "to have a good relationship." It's very general, informal, and can be used for close friends. It implies active closeness. * **和睦 (hémù)** is more formal and describes a state of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. A family can be 和睦 (i.e., they don't fight and respect each other) even if the siblings aren't best friends who hang out all the time. * //Awkward:// 我和我的好朋友很**和睦**。 (Wǒ hé wǒ de hǎo péngyǒu hěn hémù.) * //Better:// 我和我的好朋友关系很好。 (Wǒ hé wǒ de hǎo péngyǒu guānxì hěn hǎo.) -> My good friend and I have a great relationship. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[和谐]] (héxié) - Harmonious. A very broad and important social and political term in modern China. 和睦 describes a type of interpersonal 和谐. * [[和平]] (hépíng) - Peace (as in, the absence of war). Contrasts with 和睦, which is about relationships. * [[融洽]] (róngqià) - Harmonious; on friendly terms. A close synonym, often used to describe the atmosphere between colleagues or groups, implying warmth and getting along smoothly. * [[和睦相处]] (hémù xiāngchǔ) - A common idiom meaning "to live together in harmony" or "to get along peacefully." * [[家和万事兴]] (jiā hé wàn shì xīng) - A famous proverb: "When the family is harmonious, all affairs prosper." This is the cultural foundation for the importance of 和睦. * [[和气]] (héqi) - Amiable, polite, gentle. This describes a person's temperament or the tone of an interaction (e.g., to talk politely). 和气 can lead to 和睦. * [[安宁]] (ānníng) - Peaceful, tranquil, calm. Describes a quiet environment (e.g., a quiet night) or a state of mind, not a relationship between people.