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远亲不如近邻

yuǎn qīn bù rú jìn líndictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
A relative afar is less use than a close neighbor (idiom). Take whatever help is on hand, even from strangers.
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-c4209779c6b4d6e5. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

遠親不如近鄰 远亲不如近邻 [yuan3 qin1 bu4 ru2 jin4 lin2] /A relative afar is less use than a close neighbor (idiom). Take whatever help is on hand, even from strangers./

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 遠親不如近鄰

  • 远
    yuǎn

    far / distant / remote / (intensifier in a comparison) by far / much (lower etc)

    yuàn

    to distance oneself from (classical)

  • 亲
    qīn

    parent / one's own (flesh and blood) / relative / related / marriage / bride / close / intimate / in person / first-hand / in favor of / pro- / to kiss / (Internet slang) dear

    qìng

    parents-in-law of one's offspring

  • 不
    bù

    no / not so / (bound form) not / un-

  • 如
    rú

    as / as if / such as

  • 近
    jìn

    near / close to / approximately

  • 邻
    lín

    neighbor / adjacent / close to

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.