长枕大被 — “To describe deep affection and harmony among brothers”

长枕大被 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to describe deep affection and harmony among brothers”. Symbolizing fraternal love and unity. Literally, “Long pillow and large quilt”.

Frequency

长枕大被 Pronunciation and Pinyin

长枕大被 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
长	cháng	4	long, grow, excel, chief
枕	zhěn	8	pillow or rest head on
大	dà	3	large, big, great
被	bèi	11	to be subjected to

Example Sentence with 长枕大被

他们兄弟俩从小到大，长枕大被，感情一直非常深厚，是大家羡慕的对象。

From childhood to adulthood, the two brothers, showing great fraternal love, have always shared a very deep bond, making them an object of admiration for everyone.

Origin and Story of 长枕大被

During the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong was known for his deep affection towards his family. Soon after ascending the throne, he had a long pillow and a large quilt made so he could share a bed with his brothers, ensuring their daily lives, including meals and accommodation, were all of the same standard.

One day, when Prince Xue fell ill, Emperor Xuanzong personally decocted medicine for him, accidentally burning his own beard in the process. His attendants were alarmed, but Emperor Xuanzong calmly said that his beard was of no consequence, only wishing for his brother's swift recovery.