同病相怜

Pronunciation: tóng bìng xiāng lián Literal meaning: Same illness mutually sympathize

Origin & Usage

The Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue gives it to Wu Zixu, explaining why he had taken in another exile from Chu whose family had also been destroyed: those with the same affliction (同病) pity one another (相怜), those with the same anxiety help one another. The sequel is worth knowing — the man he sheltered later helped bring about his death. Chinese still uses the phrase warmly, for the solidarity that comes from shared trouble, though the source is unusually clear-eyed about its limits.

Examples

English: "Having experienced similar losses, they truly understood each other."

Chinese: 经历过类似的失去，他们同病相怜。