兄弟鬩於墻，外禦其侮 xiōng dì xì yú qiáng ， wài yù qí wǔ

quarrel inside but unite against outside foe

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. internal disunity dissolves at the threat of an invasion from outside (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
兄 xiōng HSK 5
elder brother
弟 dì HSK 2
younger brother; junior male; I (modest word in letter)
鬩 xì
to argue; to quarrel
於 yú
at; in; to
墻 qiáng
wall; variant of 牆qiáng, wall
外 wài HSK 2
outside; external; foreign
禦 yù
imperial; to manage; to govern
其 qí HSK 3
its; their; it (refers to sth preceding it)
侮 wǔ HSK 6
to insult; to ridicule; to disgrace