父母之命，媒妁之言
fù​mǔ​zhī​mìng​méi​shuò​zhī​yán

command of parents and words of matchmakers

  1. 父母 fù​mǔ noun
    parents
    father and mother; parents
  2. 之 zhī particle
    [possessive]
    Connects a describing word or phrase to the noun it describes, similar to 的 de but used in formal or literary writing.
  3. 命 mìng nounverb
    order
    an instruction or command given by a superior
  4. ， méi
    non-Chinese
  5. 媒妁 méi​shuò
    matchmaker
    (literary) a marriage matchmaker or go-between
  6. 之 zhī particle
    [possessive]
    Connects a describing word or phrase to the noun it describes, similar to 的 de but used in formal or literary writing.
  7. 言 yán noun
    speech
    words; talk; what is said