患难与共
患难与共 (huàn nàn yǔ gòng) literally means “share difficulties together” and expresses “solidarity in hardship”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: huan nan yu gong, huan nan yu gong,患难与共 meaning, 患难与共 in english
Solidarity in hardship
Pronunciation: huàn nàn yǔ gòng Literal meaning: Share difficulties together
Origin & Usage
The Book of Rites, describing the conduct of the scholar, includes standing together with others through trouble. Hence sharing (与共) hardship (患难). The phrase claims something narrower than friendship: it is specifically about the behaviour of the relationship under load, and the implicit contrast is with the companions who are present for the good part. Chinese pairs it naturally with 同甘共苦, and it appears in wedding vows, in political rhetoric about allies, and in the retrospective assessment of who actually turned up.
Examples
English: "True friends stand by each other in both good times and bad."
Chinese: 真正的朋友在患难与共时相互支持。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
大义灭亲
dà yì miè qīn
Justice over family
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见义勇为
jiàn yì yǒng wéi
Courageous moral action
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舍己为人
shě jǐ wèi rén
Selflessness
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公而忘私
gōng ér wàng sī
Public duty crowds out private interest
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以身作则
yǐ shēn zuò zé
Lead by example
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同舟共济
tóng zhōu gòng jì
Face challenges together
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将心比心
jiāng xīn bǐ xīn
Empathy and understanding
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光明磊落
guāng míng lěi luò
Upright and open; above board
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 患难与共 mean in English?
患难与共 (huàn nàn yǔ gòng) literally translates to “Share difficulties together” and is used to express “Solidarity in hardship”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 患难与共 used?
Situation: True friends stand by each other in both good times and bad.
What is the pinyin for 患难与共?
The pinyin pronunciation for 患难与共 is “huàn nàn yǔ gòng”.
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