朋友

• Pinyin: péng you
• Hanzi breakdown: 朋 = two 月 side by side, symbolising companionship; 友 = two hands clasped in friendship

Meaning

Friend. The most common and universal word for a friend or companion.

Used broadly to refer to anyone from a close friend to an acquaintance. In Chinese culture, calling someone 朋友 implies a positive social relationship. Also used in compounds like 男朋友 (boyfriend) and 女朋友 (girlfriend), where it takes on a romantic meaning.

Examples

1. 她是我最好的朋友。 She is my best friend.
2. 我今天要去朋友家。 I'm going to a friend's house today.
3. 他有很多朋友。 He has many friends.

Usage Guide

Context: social, everyday

Tone: friendly

Do Say

• 我们是好朋友。(We are good friends.)
• 我和朋友一起去看电影。(I'm going to see a movie with friends.)

Don't Say

• 对刚认识的人说你是我的好朋友。(Don't call someone you just met your 好朋友 — it sounds overly familiar; 朋友 alone is fine)

Origin & History

Originally 朋 referred to strings of shells used as currency (symbolising a group bound together), while 友 depicted two hands clasped in friendship.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal