物以类聚 — “Like attracts like”
物以类聚 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Like attracts like”. Similar things or people gravitate towards each other. Often implies that people of similar character, especially negative ones, associate with each other. Literally, “Things gather by kind”.
物以类聚 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 物wù
- 以yǐ
- 类lèi
- 聚jù
物以类聚 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 物以类聚
Origin and Story of 物以类聚
During the Warring States period, King Xuan of Qi asked the eloquent debater Chunyu Kun to recommend wise and virtuous individuals.
To the king's surprise, Chunyu Kun recommended seven such people in just one day.
The king, astonished, questioned whether Chunyu Kun was simply making up the numbers.
Chunyu Kun replied, "Birds associate with birds, and beasts with beasts. Just as one can only find the herb Bupleurum (chaihu) on mountains, things naturally group by their kind. I frequently interact with virtuous people, which is why I am able to recommend so many to you."
Idioms Related to 物以类聚
Synonyms of 物以类聚
Antonyms of 物以类聚
More idioms starting with 物
- wù物bù不píng平zé则míng鸣Injustice provokes a cry of discontent
- wù物yǐ以xī希wéi为guì贵rarity increases value
- wù物yǐ以xī稀wéi为guì贵Rarity increases value
- wù物yǐ以qún群fēn分Birds of a feather flock together
- wù物shāng伤qí其lèi类grieve for one's kind
- wù物lì力wéi维jiān艰resources are scarce and hard to sustain
- wù物huá华tiān天bǎo宝splendor of nature and heavenly treasures
- wù物gè各yǒu有zhǔ主everything has an owner
- wù物zài在rén人wáng亡objects remain, owner gone
- wù物jìn尽qí其yòng用make the best use of everything
- wù物guī归yuán原zhǔ主return to its rightful owner
- wù物guī归jiù旧zhǔ主things return to their original owner
Questions about 物以类聚
- What does 物以类聚 mean?
- 物以类聚 (wù yǐ lèi jù) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Like attracts like”.
- How do you pronounce 物以类聚?
- 物以类聚 is pronounced wù yǐ lèi jù in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 物以类聚 literally mean?
- Literally, 物以类聚 means “Things gather by kind”. It is used to mean “Like attracts like”.
- Where does 物以类聚 come from?
- 物以类聚 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 物以类聚?
- 同类的东西聚在一起。指坏人彼此臭味相投，勾结在一起。