刎颈之交
刎颈之交 (wěn jǐng zhī jiāo) literally means “friendship of severed necks” and expresses “be sworn friends; absolute loyalty”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: wen jing zhi jiao, wen jing zhi jiao,刎颈之交 meaning, 刎颈之交 in english
Be sworn friends; absolute loyalty
Pronunciation: wěn jǐng zhī jiāo
Literal meaning: Friendship of severed necks
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes a friendship (交) of severed necks (刎颈). It comes from the story of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru who reconciled their enmity and became friends willing to die for each other. The phrase represents the highest level of loyal friendship. Modern usage describes friends so devoted they would sacrifice everything for each other, the ultimate bond of loyalty.
Examples
English: "They pledged loyalty to each other through thick and thin."
Chinese: 他们是刎颈之交，发誓同甘共苦。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 刎颈之交 mean in English?
刎颈之交 (wěn jǐng zhī jiāo) literally translates to “Friendship of severed necks” and is used to express “Be sworn friends; absolute loyalty”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 刎颈之交 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving be sworn friends; absolute loyalty.
What is the pinyin for 刎颈之交?
The pinyin pronunciation for 刎颈之交 is “wěn jǐng zhī jiāo”.