Heard 啥子树子招啥虫
used in the same sense as "不是一家人,不进一家门" - I was wondering if there is a similar phrased expression in Mandarin for the first, mentioned, expression.
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4Maybe like "物以类聚, 人以群分".– StanCommented Apr 7, 2014 at 11:38
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2It is not the same.In Chinese,there are commendatory term and derogatory term.啥子树子招啥虫is used when you hate someone,and "不是一家人,不进一家门"is used when you appreciate someone.– Wooden BirdCommented Apr 8, 2014 at 5:28
2 Answers
Note that 啥子树子招啥虫 emphasizes more on similarity of couples of marriage.
龙生龙,凤生凤,老鼠儿子会打洞。
Dragon's son must be a dragon, phoenix's son must be a phoenix, and that of a mouse must can dig holes.
Meaning:
A great man teaches out great sons, a noble man cultivates noble sons. Normal people have only normal posterities.
Sometimes we neglect the second half of the phrase, i.e. just 龙生龙,凤生凤.
虎父无犬子 would also be a good one.(Literally means tiger fathers don't have dog sons)