皮之不存，毛将焉附 — “If the skin does not exist”

皮之不存，毛将焉附 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “If the skin does not exist”. Where can the hair attach itself? This idiom conveys the idea that if the fundamental basis or foundation for something's existence is lost, then the thing itself cannot survive, thrive, or find a place to belong. It highlights the essential dependency of one thing on another. Literally, “If the skin is gone, where can the hair attach?”.

Frequency

皮之不存，毛将焉附 Pronunciation and Pinyin

皮之不存，毛将焉附 Character Breakdown

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
皮	pí	5	skin, hide, peel, surface
之	zhī	4	possessive or connective particle
不	bù	4	not
存	cún	6	to exist, store, or keep
，	，	—
毛	máo	4	Hair, fur, or rough
将	jiāng	10	about to happen, to lead
焉	yān	11	how can one
附	fù	8	attach, enclose, or depend on

Example Sentence with 皮之不存，毛将焉附

如果一个团队失去了核心凝聚力，那么每一个成员都将难以发挥作用，正如皮之不存，毛将焉附。

If a team loses its core cohesion, then each member will find it difficult to function effectively, just as if the skin is gone, where can the hair attach?

Origin and Story of 皮之不存，毛将焉附

During the Spring and Autumn period, Prince Yi Wu of the Jin state sought assistance from the Qin state to ascend to the throne, promising five cities in return. After Yi Wu became Duke Hui of Jin, he broke his promise.

Later, when the Qin state suffered a famine and requested grain from Jin, Duke Hui also refused.

A minister named Guo She advised Duke Hui, saying, "Even if we lend them grain, it won't improve our relationship. It's like 'if the skin is gone, where can the hair attach?'" This meant that without a fundamental basis of trust and mutual benefit, their superficial actions would be futile, and the relationship would ultimately be unsustainable.

The idiom thus came to signify that without a foundation, nothing can exist or depend on it.