遠親不如近鄰

Simplified: 远亲不如近邻

yuǎnqīnbùrújìnlín ㄩㄢˇ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄌㄧㄣˊ

    • A relative afar is less use than a close neighbor (idiom). Take whatever help is on hand, even from strangers.

Character by character

Saying俗语俗語

Proverb谚语諺語 · In everyday use

Literally
distant relatives are not as good as near neighbours
Meaning
Neighbours can help in need more than faraway kin. Approving of good neighbourly ties.

Sources