# 休戚相关

xiū qī xiāng guān

Have closely linked interests and fortunes

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Joy and sorrow are connected

**Traditional Chinese:** 休戚相關

**Register:** Reflective · formal

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

## When to use it

Describe people affected together by outcomes.

More than mere similarity between separate things.

## Understanding the expression

Joy and sorrow represent the good and bad turns of life. When they are connected, one side's outcome matters to the other side as well. Modern use describes linked interests among families, organizations, communities, or countries. It encourages looking beyond isolated advantage. The connection need not make everyone's experience identical. Different members may be affected differently while still sharing enough consequences that cooperation and mutual attention become important.

## Examples

员工与企业的未来休戚相关。

### Traditional Chinese

員工與企業的未來休戚相關。

yuán gōng yǔ qǐ yè de wèi lái xiū qī xiāng guān 。

Employees' futures are closely linked with the company's.

两座城市的水源休戚相关。

### Traditional Chinese

兩座城市的水源休戚相關。

liǎng zuò chéng shì de shuǐ yuán xiū qī xiāng guān 。

The water resources of the two cities are closely connected.

我们的安全与邻里的安全休戚相关。

### Traditional Chinese

我們的安全與鄰里的安全休戚相關。

wǒ men de ān quán yǔ lín lǐ de ān quán xiū qī xiāng guān 。

Our safety is linked with our neighbors' safety.

供应商和客户的利益休戚相关。

### Traditional Chinese

供應商和客戶的利益休戚相關。

gōng yìng shāng hé kè hù de lì yì xiū qī xiāng guān 。

Suppliers' and customers' interests are closely linked.

## 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=%E4%BC%91%E6%88%9A%E7%9B%B8%E9%97%9C)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=213&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [袖手旁观 xiù shǒu páng guān Watch without offering help ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xiu-shou-pang-guan)

- [虚怀若谷 xū huái ruò gǔ Remain modest and receptive to others ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xu-huai-ruo-gu)

- [虚与委蛇 xū yǔ wēi yí Deal with someone through feigned civility ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xu-yu-wei-yi)

- [雪中送炭 xuě zhōng sòng tàn Give help when it’s most needed ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xue-zhong-song-tan)

## 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 胸有成竹 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xiong-you-cheng-zhu) [Next idiom 袖手旁观 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/xiu-shou-pang-guan)