远亲不如近邻
“A relative who lives far away is less helpful in daily life than a neighbour close at hand.”
Everyday support often comes from nearby community rather than distant family ties.
— Traditional Singapore Wisdom, Singapore
Source: Traditional Chinese proverb, widely used in Singapore's Chinese community, public-domain oral tradition shared with the broader Chinese-speaking world
More Proverbs from Singapore
Like bamboo and its riverbank.
Two parties who support and protect each other in a relationship of mutual benefit.
Like an areca nut split into two.
Two people or things that are strikingly similar or perfectly matched, such as a devoted couple.
Calm water, do not assume there is no crocodile.
A quiet or humble appearance may conceal hidden depth, danger, or strength.
Where there is sugar, there are ants.
People are naturally drawn to wherever there is profit or opportunity.
Little by little, over time it becomes a hill.
Small, consistent efforts accumulate into something significant.
Like a frog under a coconut shell.
A person with a narrow, limited view of the world, unaware of what lies beyond their small experience.