wù物thingsyǐ以bylèi类kindjù聚gather
Birds of a feather flock together; like attracts like.
Literal meaning
things (物) — by (以) — kind (类) — gather (聚)
Origin
Describes how people with similar interests or characteristics tend to gather together. A classical four-character phrase.
Examples
tā他men们dōu都shì是xǐ喜huan欢yīn音yuè乐de的rén人，suǒ所yǐ以wù物yǐ以lèi类jù聚，jīng经cháng常zài在yī一qǐ起。
They are all people who like music, so birds of a feather flock together, and they are often together.
sú俗huà话shuō说，wù物yǐ以lèi类jù聚，rén人yǐ以qún群fēn分。
As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together, and people are divided into groups.
Usage & nuances
Can be neutral or slightly negative, depending on the context.
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