(Yī bān shù shàng liǎng bān huā,) wǔbǎi nián qián shì yījiā.

(一般樹上兩般花,) 五百年前是一家。

Lit ([Like] two flowers grown from one tree,) [people of the same surname came from] the same family five hundred years ago.

Note [This rhymed couplet is a polite formula often said by people sharing the same surname upon first meeting; the first half is usually omitted; see also tóngxìng shì yījiā above.]

Topics couplet FAMILIES rhyme SURNAMES