# 门当户对

mén dāng hù duì

Match in family background or social standing

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Doors and households correspond

**Traditional Chinese:** 門當戶對

**Register:** Traditional · general

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe the traditional expectation of compatible family status in marriage.

A social criterion, not a guarantee of affection or suitability.

## Understanding the expression

Doors and households stand for the families behind prospective partners. The expression describes similarity in social standing, wealth, or background as a traditional basis for marriage. Some speakers still value that compatibility, while others criticize its limits. It does not establish that the individuals understand each other or want the relationship. A useful discussion separates family circumstances from personal values and mutual consent, rather than treating social matching as the whole measure of a partnership.

## Examples

父母希望他们门当户对。

### Traditional Chinese

父母希望他們門當戶對。

fù mǔ xī wàng tā men mén dāng hù duì 。

The parents hope their family backgrounds match.

两家门当户对，年轻人却谈不来。

### Traditional Chinese

兩家門當戶對，年輕人卻談不來。

liǎng jiā mén dāng hù duì ， nián qīng rén què tán bù lái 。

The families match socially, but the young people cannot connect.

她认为感情比门当户对更重要。

### Traditional Chinese

她認為感情比門當戶對更重要。

tā rèn wéi gǎn qíng bǐ mén dāng hù duì gèng zhòng yào 。

She values affection more than matching family status.

小说质疑只看门当户对的婚姻观。

### Traditional Chinese

小說質疑只看門當戶對的婚姻觀。

xiǎo shuō zhì yí zhī kàn mén dāng hù duì de hūn yīn guān 。

The novel questions marriage based only on social matching.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%96%80%E7%95%B6%E6%88%B6%E5%B0%8D)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=664&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [面面相觑 miàn miàn xiāng qù Look at one another in confusion or dismay ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/mian-mian-xiang-qu)

- [明目张胆 míng mù zhāng dǎn Act openly and brazenly ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ming-mu-zhang-dan)

- [冥顽不灵 míng wán bù líng Remain obstinately unreceptive ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ming-wan-bu-ling)

- [莫逆之交 mò nì zhī jiāo A deeply compatible friendship ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/mo-ni-zhi-jiao)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 每下愈况 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/mei-xia-yu-kuang) [Next idiom 门可罗雀 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/men-ke-luo-que)