患难与共

Pronunciation: huàn nàn yǔ gòng Literal meaning: Share difficulties together

Origin & Usage

The idiom 患难与共 (huàn nàn yǔ gòng) is commonly used in classical Chinese literature to describe the act of sharing burdens and facing difficulties together. It is believed to have its roots in the Confucian classic 'Liji' (礼记), specifically in the 'Ruxing' (儒行) chapter, which emphasizes the ethical principle of mutual support during times of hardship. The idiom is composed of four characters: 患 (huàn, trouble), 难 (nàn, difficulty), 与 (yǔ, with), and 共 (gòng, together). This phrase vividly conveys the idea of solidarity and collective resilience. In modern usage, it is often applied to describe relationships where individuals support each other through challenging circumstances, such as in marriages, friendships, or business partnerships, highlighting the importance of loyalty and cooperation.

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。