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家丑不可外传
家醜不可外傳
jiāchǒubùkěwàichuán
1. lit. family shames must not be spread abroad (idiom); fig. don't wash your dirty linen in public

Character Breakdown

家
jiā
house, home, residence; family
HSK 1 10 丶
丑
chǒu
ugly; shameful; comedian, clown
HSK 5 4 丶
不
bù
no, not, un-; negative prefix
HSK 1 4 丶
可
kě
may, can, -able; possibly
HSK 2 5 丶
外
wài
out, outside, external; foreign; in addition
HSK 2 5 丶
传
chuán
to pass on; to propagate; to transmit; summons
HSK 4 6 丶

Compound Words (1)

家丑不可外传,流言切莫轻信
jiāchǒubùkěwàichuán,liúyánqiēmòqīngxìn
Don't spread abroad the shame of the family, don't believe rumors lightly (common expression); Don't wash your dirty linen in public, don't listen to others' gossip.

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