相辅相成 xiāng fǔ xiāng chéng complement each other

Explanation

指两件事物互相配合，互相辅助，缺一不可。

Refers to two things that complement and support each other, and are indispensable to each other.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，有个叫李白的诗人，他的诗歌才华横溢，但他同时也是个酒鬼，经常醉酒误事。一日，李白与友人杜甫泛舟饮酒，酒兴正浓之时，李白突然兴起，想赋诗一首赞美这山水美景，但他一时词穷，怎么也写不出满意的诗句。杜甫见状，便提议李白先闭目养神，等酒兴过了再创作，并为他斟酒续杯。李白依言而行，不多时竟酒醉沉睡。杜甫见状，便拿出琴来，轻轻拨弄，琴声悠扬，恰似涓涓细流，又如高山流水，与这山水美景交相辉映。李白在琴声中苏醒，诗兴大发，一首《将进酒》脱口而出，气势磅礴，豪迈奔放，文采斐然。这诗歌与杜甫的琴声，可谓是相辅相成，共同成就了一场艺术盛宴。

huà shuō táng cháo shí qī yǒu gè jiào lǐ bái de shī rén tā de shīgē cái huá héng yì dàn tā tóngshí yě shì gè jiǔ guǐ jīng cháng zuì jiǔ wù shì yī rì lǐ bái yǔ yǒurén dù fǔ fàn zhōu yǐn jiǔ jiǔ xīng zhèng nóng zhī shí lǐ bái tūrán xīng qǐ xiǎng fù shī yī shǒu zàn měi zhè shān shuǐ měi jǐng dàn tā yī shí cí qióng zěnme yě xiě bù chū mǎnyì de shī jù dù fǔ jiàn zhàng biàn tí yì lǐ bái xiān bì mù yǎng shén děng jiǔ xīng guò le zài chuàng zuò bìng wèi tā zhēn jiǔ xù bēi lǐ bái yī yán ér xíng bù duō shí jìng jiǔ zuì chén shuì dù fǔ jiàn zhàng biàn ná chū qín lái qīng qīng bō nòng qín shēng yōu yáng qià sì juān juān xì liú yòu rú gāo shān liú shuǐ yǔ zhè shān shuǐ měi jǐng jiāo xiāng huī yìng lǐ bái zài qín shēng zhōng sū xǐng shī xīng dà fā yī shǒu jiāng jìn jiǔ tuō kǒu ér chū qì shì páng bó háo mài bēn fàng wén cǎi fěi rán zhè shīgē yǔ dù fǔ de qín shēng kě wèi shì xiāng fǔ xiāng chéng gòng tóng chéng jiù le yī chǎng yì shù shèng yàn

It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, there lived a poet named Li Bai, who had extraordinary poetic talent, but was also an alcoholic, often making mistakes due to his drunkenness. One day, Li Bai and his friend Du Fu were boating and drinking. In the midst of their drinking, Li Bai suddenly felt inspired to compose a poem praising the beautiful scenery, but he was at a loss for words and could not write a satisfactory poem. Seeing this, Du Fu suggested that Li Bai should first close his eyes and rest, and wait until he was sobered up before creating, and poured him more wine. Li Bai followed his advice and soon fell asleep in a drunken stupor. Seeing this, Du Fu took out his zither and played gentle melodies, which sounded like murmuring streams or flowing mountains and complemented the beautiful scenery. Li Bai awoke to the sound of the zither and was filled with inspiration. A poem called "Jiang Jin Jiu" poured out of his mouth, powerful, bold, and elegant. This poem and Du Fu's zither music complemented each other, together creating an artistic feast.

Usage

多用于描写两者之间相互依存、互相促进的关系。

duō yòng yú miáoxiě liǎng zhě zhī jiān xiāng hù yīcún xiāng hù cùjìn de guānxi

Mostly used to describe the interdependence and mutual promotion between two things.

Examples

• 精诚所至，金石为开；但若没有坚持不懈的努力，两者是相辅相成的。

  jīngchéng suǒ zhì jīnshíwéi kāi dàn ruò méiyǒu jiānchí bùxiè de nǔlì liǎng zhě shì xiāng fǔ xiāng chéng de

  Sincerity can move mountains; but without persistent efforts, the two are complementary.

• 音乐和舞蹈，相辅相成，相得益彰。

  yīnyuè hé wǔdǎo xiāng fǔ xiāng chéng xiāng dé yì zhāng

  Music and dance complement each other, enhancing each other's effect.

• 理论与实践相辅相成，不可偏废任何一方。

  lǐlùn yǔ shíjiàn xiāng fǔ xiāng chéng bùkě piānfèi rènhé yī fāng

  Theory and practice complement each other; neither should be neglected.

Related Idioms

• 相得益彰

• 珠联璧合

Opposite Idioms

• 相互冲突

• 互相抵触