Chinese Proverbs for Weddings & Marriage
At a glance: This collection contains 5 Chinese sayings about weddings. Each entry provides Chinese characters, pinyin, an English meaning, and cultural or historical context; 2 entries in this collection currently identify a named textual or traditional source.
Chinese wedding proverbs come from a tradition where marriage was the joining of two families, not just two people. The blessings reflect this: they wish not just romantic happiness but harmony, prosperity, and the endurance to weather decades together. Whether you’re giving a toast, writing a card, or planning a Chinese-style ceremony, these proverbs carry the weight of tradition.
Top 5 Chinese Wedding Proverbs
1. 执子之手，与子偕老 (Zhí zǐ zhī shǒu, yǔ zǐ xié lǎo) — “Hold your hand, and grow old together.” From the Book of Songs, the most poetic wedding blessing in the language. Read more →
2. 百年好合 (Bǎi nián hǎo hé) — “A harmonious union lasting a hundred years.” The standard blessing on every Chinese wedding invitation. Read more →
3. 一日夫妻百日恩 (Yī rì fūqī, bǎi rì ēn) — “One day as husband and wife, a hundred days of gratitude.” A single shared day creates bonds deeper than a hundred ordinary days. Read more →
4. 床头吵架床尾和 (Chuáng tóu chǎo jià, chuáng wěi hé) — “Quarrel at the bedhead, reconcile at the bedfoot.” The honest proverb: conflict is normal, and reconciliation is what matters. Read more →
5. 白头偕老 (Bái tóu xié lǎo) — “Grow old together with white hair.” The ultimate aspiration: not just love, but shared longevity. Read more →
Types of Chinese Wedding Sayings
- 古典名句 (gǔdiǎn míngjù) — From the Book of Songs. Example: 执子之手，与子偕老.
- 成语 (chéngyǔ) — Four-character blessings. Example: 百年好合, 永结同心.
- 谚语 (yànyǔ) — Folk proverbs about marriage. Example: 床头吵架床尾和.
- 俗语 (súyǔ) — Conversational blessings. Example: 天生一对 (“a natural pair”).
FAQ: Chinese Wedding Proverbs
What is the most famous Chinese wedding blessing?
白头偕老 (bái tóu xié lǎo) — to grow old together — is the most universal. It appears on wedding invitations, red banners, and engraved gifts.
What’s a Chinese blessing for newlyweds?
百年好合 (bǎi nián hǎo hé) — “a hundred years of harmony” — is the go-to blessing for newlyweds, often paired with 早生贵子 (“may you soon have children”).
Which Chinese proverb is best for a wedding toast?
执子之手，与子偕老 — “hold your hand and grow old together” — from the Book of Songs. It is the most poetic and universally understood.
Are Chinese wedding proverbs still used today?
Yes. 白头偕老, 百年好合, and 永结同心 appear on wedding invitations, banners, and speeches at both traditional and modern Chinese weddings.
How this collection is documented
Entries distinguish folk proverbs, chengyu, everyday sayings, xiehouyu, and direct classical quotations. Named sources are shown when identifiable; oral, disputed, and modern attributions are labeled instead of being assigned to a famous figure without evidence.
信言不美，美言不信
Xìn yán bù měi, měi yán bù xìn
"Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful"
Read Truthful Words Are Not Beautiful meaning
秦晋之好
Qín Jìn zhī hǎo
"The alliance of Qin and Jin"
Read The Alliance of Qin and Jin meaning
床头吵架床尾和
Chuáng tóu chǎo jià chuáng wěi hé
"Couples who quarrel at the head of the bed make peace at the foot of the bed"
Read Quarrel at the Bedhead, Peace at the Bedfoot meaning
愿得一心人，白头不相离
Yuàn dé yī xīn rén, bái tóu bù xiāng lí
"Longing for a soulmate to grow old with"
Read Wish for One Who Shares My Heart, White-Headed Never Part meaning
一日夫妻百日恩，百日夫妻似海深
Yī rì fū qī bǎi rì ēn, bǎi rì fū qī sì hǎi shēn
"One day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of grace; a hundred days as husband and wife runs deep as the sea"
Read Hundred Days of Gratitude meaning
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