10 Chinese Idioms About Loyalty & Devotion

Face challenges together

Literal meaning: Cross river in same boat

This idiom shares deep connections with China's river-centric civilization, where crossing (济) together (共) in the same boat (同舟) was often a matter of life and death. Ancient texts tell of strangers becoming allies when facing treacherous waters, especially along the mighty Yangtze. During the Thre...

Share hardships together

Literal meaning: Share boat in wind and rain

Closely related to '同舟共济' but with added emotional depth, this idiom evokes sharing a boat (同舟) amid wind (风) and rain (雨). It first appeared in Song Dynasty poetry describing political allies weathering court intrigues together. The imagery draws from the experiences of river travelers who formed d...

Help and support each other

Literal meaning: Watch and help each other

Originating from ancient Chinese village organization principles, this phrase describes communities watching (守望) and helping (相助) each other. Historical records from the Zhou Dynasty detail how five families would form mutual aid groups, sharing lookout duties and agricultural assistance. The conce...

Keep integrity without compromise

Literal meaning: Keep right no flattery

Emerging from Han Dynasty political discourse, this phrase combines maintaining righteousness (守正) with refusing to flatter or compromise principles (不阿). The term gained prominence during a period of intense political intrigue, where court officials faced pressure to abandon principles for personal...

Selfless dedication

Literal meaning: Spring silkworm until death

The poignant image of the spring (春) silkworm (蚕) spinning until death (死) emerged from ancient observations of sericulture, where silkworms produce silk continuously until their final moments. This idiom gained particular resonance during the Tang Dynasty, appearing prominently in love poetry and l...

Help in time of need

Literal meaning: Send coal in snow

Sending (送) coal (炭) in snow (雪) weather captured the essence of timely assistance during critical moments. This Song Dynasty idiom arose from stories of wealthy merchants who distributed fuel to poor families during harsh winters, when coal prices typically soared beyond reach. The image of dark co...

Keep promises faithfully

Literal meaning: One promise thousand gold

Emerging from the Spring and Autumn period, this idiom equates one (一) promise (诺) with a thousand in gold (千金). It gained prominence through the story of Ji Zha, who honored a posthumous promise despite great personal cost. The concept became central to merchant culture during the Tang Dynasty, whe...

Maintain perfect integrity despite temptation

Literal meaning: Sit in lap not disorderly

This idiom refers to maintaining propriety (不乱) even when a woman sits (坐) in one's lap (怀), originating from a story about Confucian scholar Liuxia Hui during the Spring and Autumn period. Historical texts recount how he once held a freezing woman in his arms to save her life, yet maintained perfec...

Help each other in adversity

Literal meaning: Moisten each other with foam

This idiom describes moistening each other (相濡) with foam (以沫). From Zhuangzi's parable of fish in a drying pond who keep each other alive by sharing their foam. Though Zhuangzi suggested freedom was better, the phrase came to represent devoted mutual support during hardship. Modern usage describes ...

Treat each other with respect

Literal meaning: Respect each other like guests

This idiom describes respecting each other (相敬) like guests (如宾). It comes from Zuozhuan describing an ideal married couple who maintained the courtesy usually reserved for guests. The phrase depicts marriages where respect never fades into familiarity. Modern usage describes relationships, especial...