10 Chinese Sayings About Friendship & Loyalty

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...

Instant friendship

Literal meaning: Tilt hat like old friends

Dating to the Spring and Autumn period, this elegant idiom describes the instant rapport between kindred spirits, comparing it to tilting (倾) carriage covers (盖) while greeting as if (如) old (故) friends. The image comes from ancient Chinese road etiquette, where travelers would tilt their carriage c...

Perfect artistic understanding between friends

Literal meaning: High mountain flowing water

This aesthetic idiom pairs lofty (高) mountains (山) with flowing (流) water (水), originating from a famous friendship between Zhong Ziqi and musician Bo Ya during the Spring and Autumn period. Historical texts recount how Bo Ya would play his qin while Zhong Ziqi perfectly understood his musical inten...

Regret not meeting sooner; instant rapport

Literal meaning: Meeting each other regret it was late

This idiom describes meeting (相见) and regretting (恨) it was late (晚). It expresses the feeling when connecting with someone special and wishing the relationship had begun sooner. The phrase appeared in classical literature describing profound connections between people who felt their meeting was ove...

Share complete trust and loyalty

Literal meaning: Livers and galls illuminate each other

This idiom describes livers (肝) and galls (胆) illuminating (照) each other (相). In Chinese culture, these organs represent courage and sincerity. The phrase depicts friends so close they share their innermost selves. Modern usage describes deep friendship characterized by complete trust and transpare...

Share the same goals and values

Literal meaning: Same aspirations, aligned paths

This idiom describes having the same (同) aspirations (志) and aligned (合) paths (道). It depicts people united by shared goals and values rather than mere proximity or convenience. The phrase emphasizes ideological and purposeful alignment. Modern usage describes like-minded people who come together b...

Be bosom friends

Literal meaning: Friendship without opposition

This idiom describes a friendship (交) without (莫) opposition (逆). It comes from Zhuangzi describing friends whose relationship has no discord or conflict. The phrase depicts ideal friendship where understanding is so complete that disagreement doesn't arise. Modern usage describes best friends whose...

Be sworn friends; absolute loyalty

Literal meaning: Friendship of severed necks

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 wo...

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 ...