📖 Meaning
Describes a family with many sons and sons-in-law, that is, a large and flourishing household of male descendants and their spouses. It emphasizes abundant offspring and a prosperous, thriving family, often used to praise a man of great fortune.
📜 Origin Story
This is a variant form of the idiom '七子八婿'. According to the authoritative dictionary, it has no recorded origin. Traditional folklore connects '七子八婿' with the Tang Dynasty general Guo Ziyi (郭子仪), who was said to have seven sons and eight sons-in-law, all holding high office at court; his family was celebrated as a model of extraordinary prosperity and longevity. The variant '七男八婿' uses '男' (son) in place of '子' to the same effect.
💡 Example Usage
老将军七男八婿，个个成家立业，晚景十分热闹。
The old general had seven sons and eight sons-in-law, each settled and established, so his later years were lively and full.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 七男八婿
- Pinyin: qī nán bā xù
- Literal Translation: seven, son, eight, son-in-law
- Category: Status
- Characters: 4