遠親不如近鄰 yuǎn qīn bù rú jìn lín

DEFINITIONS

  1. A relative afar is less use than a close neighbor (idiom). Take whatever help is on hand, even from strangers.

CHARACTERS

遠 yuǎn distant, remote, far; profound
親 qīn relatives, parents; intimate
不 bù no, not; un-; negative prefix
如 rú if, supposing; as if; like, as
近 jìn near, close; approach; intimate
鄰 lín neighbor; neighborhood