志同道合
志同道合 (zhì tóng dào hé) literally means “same aspirations, aligned paths” and expresses “share the same goals and values”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: zhi tong dao he, zhi tong dao he,志同道合 meaning, 志同道合 in english
Share the same goals and values
Pronunciation: zhì tóng dào hé Literal meaning: Same aspirations, aligned paths
Origin & Usage
The same (同) ambition (志) and paths that fit together (道合). 志 is what a person is aiming at and 道 is the way they mean to get there, so the phrase requires agreement on both — people who want the same thing by different means do not qualify. That is a stricter test than friendship, which is why it belongs to founding partners, political allies and collaborators rather than to companions. What it names is the basis on which people joined, and it explains why a group holds.
Examples
English: "They became partners because they shared the same vision."
Chinese: 他们志同道合，因此成为合作伙伴。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
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zì gào fèn yǒng
Volunteer bravely; step forward willingly
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biàn běn jiā lì
Get worse; intensify negatively
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Regret not meeting sooner; instant rapport
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gān dǎn xiāng zhào
Share complete trust and loyalty
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Be perfectly compatible; hit it off
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mò nì zhī jiāo
Be bosom friends
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刎颈之交
wěn jǐng zhī jiāo
Be sworn friends; absolute loyalty
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知行合一
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 志同道合 mean in English?
志同道合 (zhì tóng dào hé) literally translates to “Same aspirations, aligned paths” and is used to express “Share the same goals and values”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 志同道合 used?
Situation: They became partners because they shared the same vision.
What is the pinyin for 志同道合?
The pinyin pronunciation for 志同道合 is “zhì tóng dào hé”.