📖 Meaning
To grow old together with mutual respect and affection, as a married couple. It conveys the ideal of spouses who remain lovingly devoted to each other well into old age. The phrase parallels the classic expression '白首相庄' (growing old in mutual courtesy).
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Qing dynasty scholar Ji Yun's (纪昀) notebook 'Yuewei Caotang Biji' (阅微草堂笔记), specifically the section 'Luanyang Xiaoxia Lu II.' The text mentions Lady Zou, who maintained a harmonious and respectful marriage into her old age — 白首齐眉 — though she lost her sight in her later years and the family's finances declined. The anecdote highlights her lifelong marital devotion despite later hardship.
💡 Example Usage
这对夫妻相敬如宾，白首齐眉，令邻里十分敬重。
This couple treated each other with lifelong respect and grew old together in harmony, earning the deep admiration of their neighbors.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 白首齐眉
- Pinyin: bái shǒu qí méi
- Literal Translation: white head, equal eyebrows
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4