yuǎnqīnbùrújìnlín: 远亲不如近邻 - A Close Neighbor is Better Than a Distant Relative

• Keywords: 远亲不如近邻, yuan qin bu ru jin lin, Chinese proverb about neighbors, distant relative close neighbor, Chinese community, neighborhood relationships, Chinese sayings, chengyu, help from neighbors
• Summary: The Chinese proverb 远亲不如近邻 (yuǎn qīn bù rú jìn lín) translates to “a close neighbor is better than a distant relative.” It highlights a core cultural value in China: the practical importance of strong community ties. This saying emphasizes that in an emergency or time of immediate need, the help you can get from someone living next door is far more valuable and practical than the support offered by family members who live far away. It underscores the wisdom of fostering good relationships with those in your immediate vicinity.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yuǎn qīn bù rú jìn lín
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (成语) / Proverb (俗语)
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: A neighbor who is close by is more helpful than a relative who lives far away.
• In a Nutshell: This proverb is a simple statement of practicality. It doesn't devalue family; it elevates the importance of your immediate community. Imagine you're sick and need someone to bring you medicine, or you've locked your keys in your apartment. Your loving parents who live a thousand miles away can offer sympathy over the phone, but your neighbor can be at your door with a spare key or a bowl of soup in five minutes. That immediate, tangible help is what this proverb celebrates.

• 远 (yuǎn): Far, distant.
• 亲 (qīn): A relative or kin (short for 亲戚, qīnqi).
• 不如 (bù rú): Not as good as; inferior to. This is a common structure for making comparisons.
• 近 (jìn): Near, close.
• 邻 (lín): A neighbor (short for 邻居, línjū).

The characters literally combine to say: “Distant relatives (远亲) are not as good as (不如) close neighbors (近邻).” The logic is direct and easy to follow.

This proverb is deeply rooted in China's historically agrarian and collectivist society. For centuries, people in villages relied on each other for survival—from planting and harvesting crops to defending against bandits. Your neighbors were your first line of defense and support. This created a strong sense of 集体主义 (jítǐ zhǔyì), or collectivism, where the well-being and harmony of the community were paramount. In the West, a similar concept might be “it takes a village to raise a child,” but 远亲不如近邻 is broader and more pragmatic. The Western cultural emphasis, especially in America, is often on self-reliance and the nuclear family. While being a “good neighbor” is a virtue, the Chinese proverb frames it as a matter of practical wisdom and mutual obligation. It suggests that investing in your local community is a smart, strategic decision for your own well-being. This is closely tied to the concept of 人情味 (rénqíngwèi), or “human warmth,” which describes the pleasant feeling of a close-knit, helpful community.

Despite rapid urbanization, this proverb is still incredibly relevant.

• In Urban Apartment Buildings: It's often used to encourage residents to get to know each other. For example, if a neighbor signs for your package, you might thank them by saying, “真是远亲不如近邻啊!” (It's so true that a close neighbor is better than a distant relative!).
• Community Building: Neighborhood committees and WeChat groups often use this phrase to foster a sense of community and encourage mutual help among residents.
• As Advice: An older person might say this to a young person moving to a new city, advising them to be friendly and helpful to their new neighbors.

The connotation is almost always positive and warm. It's used to express gratitude for a neighbor's help or to make a general observation about the importance of community. It's suitable for both informal conversation and more formal writing.

• Example 1:
  • 我昨天半夜生病了，多亏了邻居王叔叔送我去的医院。真是远亲不如近邻啊！
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zuótiān bànyè shēngbìng le, duōkuī le línjū Wáng shūshu sòng wǒ qù de yīyuàn. Zhēnshì yuǎnqīnbùrújìnlín a!
  • English: I got sick in the middle of the night yesterday. Thankfully, my neighbor Uncle Wang took me to the hospital. It's so true that a close neighbor is better than a distant relative!
  • Analysis: This is a classic use case, expressing sincere gratitude for a neighbor's timely help in an emergency.
• Example 2:
  • 我们刚搬来，以后还请多多关照，毕竟远亲不如近邻嘛。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gāng bān lái, yǐhòu hái qǐng duōduō guānzhào, bìjìng yuǎnqīnbùrújìnlín ma.
  • English: We just moved in. Please look after us in the future; after all, a close neighbor is better than a distant relative.
  • Analysis: Here, the proverb is used proactively when meeting new neighbors to establish a friendly, cooperative relationship from the start.
• Example 3:
  • 你一个人在外面工作，要跟邻居搞好关系，有什么事他们也能帮帮你，远亲不如近邻。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yīgè rén zài wàimiàn gōngzuò, yào gēn línjū gǎohǎo guānxì, yǒu shénme shì tāmen yě néng bāng bāng nǐ, yuǎnqīnbùrújìnlín.
  • English: You're working alone far from home, so you should build a good relationship with your neighbors. If anything happens, they can help you out. A close neighbor is better than a distant relative.
  • Analysis: This is a common piece of advice given by parents to their children who are moving away for work or study.
• Example 4:
  • 张阿姨，谢谢您帮我照看了一下孩子，真是远亲不如近邻。
  • Pinyin: Zhāng āyí, xièxiè nín bāng wǒ zhàokàn le yīxià háizi, zhēnshì yuǎnqīnbùrújìnlín.
  • English: Auntie Zhang, thank you for helping me look after my child for a bit. A close neighbor is truly better than a distant relative.
  • Analysis: This example shows the proverb being used for small, everyday favors that make life easier.
• Example 5:
  • 这次小区停水，邻居们互相分享存水，让我深刻体会到了远亲不如近邻的道理。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì xiǎoqū tíngshuǐ, línjūmen hùxiāng fēnxiǎng cúnshuǐ, ràng wǒ shēnkè tǐhuì dào le yuǎnqīnbùrújìnlín de dàolǐ.
  • English: The water was shut off in our residential complex this time, and the neighbors all shared their stored water. It made me deeply understand the principle that “a close neighbor is better than a distant relative.”
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the proverb as a “道理 (dàolǐ)” - a principle or truth that was learned through experience.
• Example 6:
  • 我出国旅游的时候，我的猫就拜托邻居照顾了。远亲不如近邻，我的家人可帮不上这个忙。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ chūguó lǚyóu de shíhou, wǒ de māo jiù bàituō línjū zhàogù le. Yuǎnqīnbùrújìnlín, wǒ de jiārén kě bāng bu shàng zhège máng.
  • English: When I traveled abroad, I entrusted my cat to my neighbor. A close neighbor is better than a distant relative; my family couldn't help me with that.
  • Analysis: This highlights a very practical situation where proximity is the only thing that matters.
• Example 7:
  • 虽然我弟弟就住在隔壁城市，但真有急事的时候，还是旁边的李大哥来得快。远亲不如近邻嘛！
  • Pinyin: Suīrán wǒ dìdi jiù zhù zài gébì chéngshì, dàn zhēn yǒu jíshì de shíhou, háishì pángbiān de Lǐ dàgē lái de kuài. Yuǎnqīnbùrújìnlín ma!
  • English: Although my younger brother lives in the next city, when there's a real emergency, Big Brother Li from next door gets here faster. A close neighbor is better than a distant relative!
  • Analysis: This directly compares a “distant” relative (even one in a nearby city) with an immediate neighbor, perfectly illustrating the proverb's core logic.
• Example 8:
  • 别总跟邻居吵架，俗话说得好，远亲不如近邻。
  • Pinyin: Bié zǒng gēn línjū chǎojià, súhuà shuō de hǎo, yuǎnqīnbùrújìnlín.
  • English: Don't always argue with your neighbors. As the saying goes, a close neighbor is better than a distant relative.
  • Analysis: The proverb is used here as a gentle scolding or piece of corrective advice.
• Example 9:
  • 咱们这个院子里的邻里关系特别好，大家都有“远亲不如近邻”的意识。
  • Pinyin: Zánmen zhège yuànzi lǐ de línlǐ guānxì tèbié hǎo, dàjiā dōu yǒu “yuǎnqīnbùrújìnlín” de yìshí.
  • English: The neighborly relations in our courtyard are especially good; everyone has the awareness that “a close neighbor is better than a distant relative.”
  • Analysis: This shows the proverb can be used as a concept or “awareness” (意识) that a community shares.
• Example 10:
  • 忘了带酱油，去隔壁借一点就行了，这就是远亲不如近邻的好处。
  • Pinyin: Wàng le dài jiàngyóu, qù gébì jiè yīdiǎn jiù xíng le, zhè jiùshì yuǎnqīnbùrújìnlín de hǎochu.
  • English: I forgot to bring soy sauce, I can just go next door and borrow a little. This is the benefit of “a close neighbor is better than a distant relative.”
  • Analysis: A perfect example of the proverb applying to a very minor, everyday inconvenience where a neighbor's help is invaluable.

• It's Not Anti-Family: A common mistake for learners is to think this proverb means Chinese culture values neighbors *more* than family. This is incorrect. It's not a statement about emotional bonds, but about practical help in emergencies. Family is the cornerstone of Chinese society, but this proverb acknowledges the simple reality of physical distance.
• Contrast, Not a “False Friend”: This proverb is often contrasted with the Western saying, “Blood is thicker than water.”
  • 远亲不如近邻 (yuǎnqīn bùrú jìnlín): Prioritizes practical help based on proximity.
  • Blood is thicker than water: Prioritizes loyalty based on kinship.

They address different situations and values. One is about who can help you right now; the other is about who you should be loyal to in a conflict.

• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • Incorrect: 我妈妈对我最好，比我所有的朋友都好。真是远亲不如近邻。 (Wǒ māmā duì wǒ zuì hǎo, bǐ wǒ suǒyǒu de péngyǒu dōu hǎo. Zhēnshì yuǎnqīnbùrújìnlín.)
  • Why it's wrong: This sentence is comparing the emotional love of a mother to that of friends. The proverb 远亲不如近邻 is about the practical help of a neighbor versus a distant relative, not about emotional preference between different types of relationships. The key elements of “neighbor,” “distant,” and “practical help” are all missing.

• 邻里关系 (línlǐ guānxì) - Neighborly relations. This is the specific type of relationship that 远亲不如近邻 encourages fostering.
• 守望相助 (shǒuwàng xiāngzhù) - A chengyu meaning “to keep watch and help one another.” It describes the ideal behavior in a community that lives by the principle of 远亲不如近邻.
• 互帮互助 (hùbāng hùzhù) - To help each other mutually. A more general term for mutual assistance that is the foundation of good neighborly relations.
• 人情味 (rénqíngwèi) - “Human warmth” or a sense of community kindness. A neighborhood where people practice 远亲不如近邻 is said to be full of 人情味.
• 血浓于水 (xuè nóng yú shuǐ) - The direct Chinese equivalent of “Blood is thicker than water.” It serves as a fascinating cultural counterpoint, emphasizing the unbreakable bonds of family.
• 出门靠朋友 (chūmén kào péngyou) - “When away from home, you rely on friends.” This shares a similar theme of relying on non-family members for support when you are outside your traditional family network.
• 社区 (shèqū) - Community. The modern context (e.g., an apartment complex or housing development) where these relationships play out.
• 远水救不了近火 (yuǎn shuǐ jiù bu liǎo jìn huǒ) - “Distant water can't extinguish a nearby fire.” This proverb has the exact same underlying logic and is often used interchangeably to emphasize the need for immediate solutions.