战友

• Pinyin: zhàn yǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 战 = 占 (phonetic) + 戈 (weapon); 友 = 又 (hand) doubled, mutual help

Meaning

Comrade-in-arms; a fellow soldier or someone who has shared in a difficult experience together.

Originally refers to soldiers who served together, sharing bonds forged through hardship and danger. Extended to describe close colleagues or partners who have gone through challenging experiences together. Implies deep trust, loyalty, and mutual support.

Examples

1. 他和当年的战友每年都会聚一次，回忆在部队的日子。 He and his former comrades-in-arms get together every year to reminisce about their days in the military.
2. 虽然已经退伍多年，但战友情谊从未淡化。 Although it has been many years since they left the military, the bond between comrades has never faded.
3. 创业路上，合伙人就是我最亲密的战友。 On the entrepreneurial journey, my business partners are my closest comrades-in-arms.

Usage Guide

Context: military, emotional, business

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 老战友见面格外亲切。(Old comrades-in-arms meeting each other feel especially close.)
• 我们是并肩作战的战友。(We are comrades who fought side by side.)

Don't Say

• 我的游戏战友帮我升级。(While used in gaming, this diminishes the original military meaning — use 队友 for game teammates)

Origin & History

Compound of 战 (war, battle) and 友 (friend). A term that emerged from military contexts to describe the special bond between soldiers.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal