internal strife; internecine conflict
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
internal strife; conflict within a family or group; brothers quarreling at home
literaryDerived from the Classic of Poetry (Shijing). Originally described brothers quarreling inside the walls, later extended to describe internal conflicts within families, organizations, or nations. Often used in formal or written contexts.
Liǎng两
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
běn本
lái来
shì是
hé合
zuò作
huǒ伙
bàn伴
，
xiàn现
zài在
què却
yīn因
wèi为
lì利
yì益
wèn问
tí题
ér而
xiōng兄
dì弟
xì阋
qiáng墙
。
The two companies were originally partners, but now they are in conflict over interests.
Zhè这
gè个
guó国
jiā家
de的
zhèng政
zhì治
wēi危
jī机
shí实
jì际
shàng上
shì是
tǒng统
zhì治
jí集
tuán团
nèi内
bù部
xiōng兄
dì弟
xì阋
qiáng墙
de的
jié结
guǒ果
。
The political crisis in this country is actually the result of internal strife within the ruling group.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Xiōng兄
dì弟
xì阋
qiáng墙
，
wài外
yù御
qí其
wǔ侮
，
zhè这
shì是
wǒ我
men们
zhōng中
huá华
mín民
zú族
de的
chuán传
tǒng统
zhì智
huì慧
。
Brothers may quarrel at home, but they unite against external insults—this is the traditional wisdom of the Chinese nation.