风雨同舟
风雨同舟 (fēng yǔ tóng zhōu) literally means “share boat in wind and rain” and expresses “share hardships together”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: feng yu tong zhou, feng yu tong zhou,风雨同舟 meaning, 风雨同舟 in english
Share hardships together
Pronunciation: fēng yǔ tóng zhōu Literal meaning: Share boat in wind and rain
Origin & Usage
Sharing a boat (同舟) through wind (风) and rain (雨). The Sunzi supplies the underlying observation: the men of Wu and the men of Yue hate one another, but caught in the same boat in a gale they will help each other like the left hand and the right. That is the argument the phrase carries — not that the parties are friends, but that the boat makes the question irrelevant for as long as the weather lasts. Partnerships and marriages that came through something bad together earn it, and it is warmer than 同舟共济, which stays closer to a statement of necessity.
Examples
English: "The partners stood by each other through business difficulties"
Chinese: 合伙人在企业困难时期互相支持
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
同舟共济
tóng zhōu gòng jì
Face challenges together
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春风化雨
chūn fēng huà yǔ
Gentle, nurturing influence
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以心换心
yǐ xīn huàn xīn
Treat others as yourself
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海纳百川
hǎi nà bǎi chuān
Accept all with open mind
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以和为贵
yǐ hé wéi guì
Value harmony above all
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雪中送炭
xuě zhōng sòng tàn
Help in time of need
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倾盖如故
qīng gài rú gù
Instant friendship
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守望相助
shǒu wàng xiāng zhù
Neighbours look out for each other
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 风雨同舟 mean in English?
风雨同舟 (fēng yǔ tóng zhōu) literally translates to “Share boat in wind and rain” and is used to express “Share hardships together”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 风雨同舟 used?
Situation: The partners stood by each other through business difficulties
What is the pinyin for 风雨同舟?
The pinyin pronunciation for 风雨同舟 is “fēng yǔ tóng zhōu”.
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