📖 Meaning
A relationship built through female relatives such as wives, daughters, or sisters. It refers to using marital and kinship ties to gain power, position, or favor. The term is used critically to describe nepotism secured through family connections.
📜 Origin Story
The term originates from the Song dynasty work 'Chaoye Leiyao' (朝野类要) by Zhao Ang. It recorded that the sons-in-law of imperial princes were appointed to the 'Xi Gong' (西宫) post, popularly called 'Jun Ma' (郡马), and colloquially known as officials whose position came through the 'skirt string' — the wife's family ties. Over time, the phrase extended to describe any nepotistic appointment obtained through female kinship connections rather than merit.
💡 Example Usage
这家公司的高管大多是靠裙带关系上位的。
Most of the executives at this company got their positions through nepotism.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 裙带关系
- Pinyin: qún dài guān xì
- Literal Translation: skirt, band, relation, tie
- Category: Power
- Characters: 4