Chinese idioms (成语, chéngyǔ) are a window into Chinese culture, emotions, and human relationships. Many idioms describe love, friendship, and the bonds between people in poetic and memorable ways.
Learning these idioms will not only improve your Mandarin vocabulary but also help you express feelings more naturally. In this post, we explore 10 essential idioms about love and friendship, their meanings, and practical examples with Chinese (中文, zhōngwén), pinyin, and English.
1. 海誓山盟 (hǎi shì shān méng) – Vows of Eternal Love
Literally “oath by the sea and mountains,” this idiom describes a romantic promise of eternal love and loyalty.
Example sentences:
- 他们在海边许下海誓山盟，誓言永不分离 (tāmen zài hǎibiān xǔ xià hǎi shì shān méng, shìyán yǒng bù fēnlí) – They made eternal love vows by the sea, promising never to be apart.
- 海誓山盟听起来浪漫，但真正的爱情需要行动 (hǎi shì shān méng tīng qǐlái làngmàn, dàn zhēnzhèng de àiqíng xūyào xíngdòng) – Romantic promises sound beautiful, but real love requires action.
2. 患难见真情 (huàn nàn jiàn zhēn qíng) – True Friendship Revealed in Hard Times
This idiom literally means “adversity reveals true feelings.” It describes friends or loved ones who stand by you during difficulties.
Example sentences:
- 在他失业时，她一直陪伴他，真是患难见真情 (zài tā shīyè shí, tā yīzhí péibàn tā, zhēn shì huàn nàn jiàn zhēn qíng) – She stood by him when he lost his job; adversity revealed true friendship.
- 患难见真情，朋友之间最重要的是互相支持 (huàn nàn jiàn zhēn qíng, péngyǒu zhī jiān zuì zhòngyào de shì hùxiāng zhīchí) – True friendship is shown in hard times; mutual support is most important.
3. 一见钟情 (yī jiàn zhōng qíng) – Love at First Sight
Literally “love at first sight,” this idiom is commonly used to describe instant romantic attraction.
Example sentences:
- 他第一次见她就一见钟情 (tā dì yī cì jiàn tā jiù yī jiàn zhōng qíng) – He fell in love with her at first sight.
- 一见钟情的故事在小说和电影中很常见 (yī jiàn zhōng qíng de gùshì zài xiǎoshuō hé diànyǐng zhōng hěn chángjiàn) – Love-at-first-sight stories are common in novels and movies.
4. 推心置腹 (tuī xīn zhì fù) – Confide Wholeheartedly
This idiom literally means “to push out the heart and place it in the abdomen,” symbolizing sincere trust and openness.
Example sentences:
- 我们是多年好友，可以推心置腹地谈任何事情 (wǒmen shì duō nián hǎoyǒu, kěyǐ tuī xīn zhì fù de tán rènhé shìqíng) – We’ve been friends for years; we can confide in each other about anything.
- 推心置腹是友谊中最宝贵的品质 (tuī xīn zhì fù shì yǒuyì zhōng zuì bǎoguì de pǐnzhì) – Sincerity and openness are the most valuable qualities in friendship.
5. 肝胆相照 (gān dǎn xiāng zhào) – Mutual Loyalty
Literally “showing each other liver and gallbladder,” this idiom represents total honesty and loyalty between friends.
Example sentences:
- 他们从小一起长大，肝胆相照 (tāmen cóng xiǎo yīqǐ zhǎng dà, gān dǎn xiāng zhào) – They grew up together and have been completely loyal to each other.
- 真正的朋友应该肝胆相照 (zhēnzhèng de péngyǒu yīnggāi gān dǎn xiāng zhào) – True friends should be loyal and honest.
6. 白头偕老 (bái tóu xié lǎo) – Grow Old Together
Literally “grow old with white hair together,” this idiom is a blessing for married couples wishing to spend their lives together.
Example sentences:
- 祝你们白头偕老，永远幸福 (zhù nǐmen bái tóu xié lǎo, yǒngyuǎn xìngfú) – I wish you a long and happy life together.
- 白头偕老是中国人对爱情最美好的祝愿之一 (bái tóu xié lǎo shì zhōngguó rén duì àiqíng zuì měihǎo de zhùyuàn zhī yī) – Growing old together is one of the most beautiful wishes for love in China.
7. 情同手足 (qíng tóng shǒu zú) – Friends as Close as Family
Literally “feelings like hands and feet,” this idiom describes a bond between friends as close as siblings.
Example sentences:
- 我们情同手足，互相照顾多年 (wǒmen qíng tóng shǒu zú, hùxiāng zhàogù duō nián) – Our friendship is as close as family; we’ve looked out for each other for years.
- 情同手足的朋友值得一生珍惜 (qíng tóng shǒu zú de péngyǒu zhídé yīshēng zhēnxī) – Friends as close as family are worth cherishing forever.
8. 执子之手，与子偕老 (zhí zǐ zhī shǒu, yǔ zǐ xié lǎo) – Hand in Hand, Grow Old Together
This idiom comes from ancient Chinese poetry and expresses a romantic commitment to grow old with one’s partner.
Example sentences:
- 他们在婚礼上承诺执子之手，与子偕老 (tāmen zài hūnlǐ shàng chéngnuò zhí zǐ zhī shǒu, yǔ zǐ xié lǎo) – They promised at their wedding to grow old together.
- 执子之手，与子偕老是表达爱情忠贞的诗意说法 (zhí zǐ zhī shǒu, yǔ zǐ xié lǎo shì biǎodá àiqíng zhōngzhēn de shīyì shuōfǎ) – This poetic expression shows steadfast love.
9. 肝肠寸断 (gān cháng cùn duàn) – Heartbroken
Literally “liver and intestines cut into pieces,” this idiom describes extreme emotional pain, often due to love or friendship loss.
Example sentences:
- 听到朋友离开的消息，我肝肠寸断 (tīngdào péngyǒu líkāi de xiāoxi, wǒ gān cháng cùn duàn) – I was heartbroken when I heard the news that my friend was leaving.
- 爱情失败让他肝肠寸断，但他仍然坚强 (àiqíng shībài ràng tā gān cháng cùn duàn, dàn tā réngrán jiānqiáng) – Love failure broke his heart, but he stayed strong.
10. 患难与共 (huàn nàn yǔ gòng) – Stand Together in Adversity
Literally “share hardships together,” this idiom expresses solidarity between friends or loved ones in difficult times.
Example sentences:
- 战友们患难与共，一起经历了很多困难 (zhànyǒu men huàn nàn yǔ gòng, yīqǐ jīnglì le hěn duō kùnnán) – Comrades stood together in adversity and went through many hardships.
- 真正的朋友会患难与共，而不仅仅分享快乐 (zhēnzhèng de péngyǒu huì huàn nàn yǔ gòng, ér bù jǐnjǐn fēnxiǎng kuàilè) – True friends share difficulties, not just happiness.
Vocabulary
- 成语 (chéngyǔ) – idiom
- 爱情 (àiqíng) – love
- 友情 (yǒuqíng) – friendship
- 承诺 (chéngnuò) – promise
- 祝愿 (zhùyuàn) – wish
- 忠贞 (zhōngzhēn) – loyalty
- 难过 (nánguò) – sadness
- 支持 (zhīchí) – support
- 离开 (líkāi) – leave
- 珍惜 (zhēnxī) – cherish