刎颈之交

Pronunciation: wěn jǐng zhī jiāo Literal meaning: Friendship of severed necks

Origin & Usage

Lian Po, a general, had been publicly slighting Lin Xiangru, a courtier promoted over him; Lin kept out of his way, explaining that Zhao survived because the two of them both existed and that a quarrel would finish it. Lian Po came to his gate carrying a rod and asked to be beaten with it. They became 刎颈之交 — friends (交) who would give the throat (刎颈) for one another. What the phrase claims is not affection but a bond in which the other's life outweighs one's own, and it is reserved accordingly.

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。