肝胆相照
肝胆相照 (gān dǎn xiāng zhào) literally means “livers and galls illuminate each other” and expresses “share complete trust and loyalty”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: gan dan xiang zhao, gan dan xiang zhao,肝胆相照 meaning, 肝胆相照 in english
Share complete trust and loyalty
Pronunciation: gān dǎn xiāng zhào Literal meaning: Livers and galls illuminate each other
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes livers (肝) and galls (胆) illuminating (照) each other (相). In Chinese culture, these organs represent courage and sincerity. The phrase depicts friends so close they share their innermost selves. Modern usage describes deep friendship characterized by complete trust and transparency, relationships where nothing is hidden and total loyalty exists.
Examples
English: "The two friends shared everything with complete trust."
Chinese: 两位朋友肝胆相照,完全信任彼此。
Related Chinese Idioms
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一模一样
yī mú yī yàng
Exactly identical
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以心换心
yǐ xīn huàn xīn
Treat others as yourself
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海纳百川
hǎi nà bǎi chuān
Accept all with open mind
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以和为贵
yǐ hé wéi guì
Value harmony above all
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同舟共济
tóng zhōu gòng jì
Face challenges together
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风雨同舟
fēng yǔ tóng zhōu
Share hardships together
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春风化雨
chūn fēng huà yǔ
Gentle, nurturing influence
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 肝胆相照 mean in English?
肝胆相照 (gān dǎn xiāng zhào) literally translates to “Livers and galls illuminate each other” and is used to express “Share complete trust and loyalty”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 肝胆相照 used?
Situation: The two friends shared everything with complete trust.
What is the pinyin for 肝胆相照?
The pinyin pronunciation for 肝胆相照 is “gān dǎn xiāng zhào”.
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