友情

• Pinyin: yǒu qíng
• Hanzi breakdown: 友 = two right hands joined (mutual support — friend); 情 = 忄+ 青 (heart + pure — feelings/emotion)

Meaning

Friendship; the emotional bond of goodwill shared between friends. Focuses on the sentimental and affective dimension of friendship.

More literary and elevated than 友谊 (which emphasizes the relationship itself) or 朋友关系 (neutral). 友情 foregrounds the emotional and sentimental dimension of friendship. Common in literature, film titles, formal speeches, and heartfelt contexts. 友情提示 is a fixed phrase meaning 'friendly reminder.'

Examples

1. 这部小说写三位战士在战火中结下的深厚友情，也写出个人命运与民族命运的交织。 This novel depicts the deep friendship three soldiers formed in the flames of war, and the intertwining of personal fate and national fate.
2. 在快节奏的都市生活里，真挚的友情越来越难维系，许多人因此感到热闹却孤单。 In fast-paced city life, sincere friendship is becoming harder to maintain, so many people feel busy yet lonely.
3. 两位老作家少年结下的友情跨越半个世纪，晚年合写回忆录，记录彼此对人生的思索。 The friendship the two old writers formed in their youth lasted more than half a century, and in old age they co-wrote a memoir recording their reflections on life.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, relationships, culture

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 他们的友情经受住了岁月和逆境的考验，无论得意还是失意，都彼此扶持。(Their friendship has withstood the test of time and adversity, and they have supported each other through both success and setbacks.)
• 这部青春电影写四位异乡室友从陌生到结下深厚友情，也唤起了许多人的大学回忆。(This coming-of-age film shows four roommates from different places going from strangers to deep friendship, and it also awakens many people's college memories.)

Don't Say

• 友情价格五十元 — while 友情价 is a colloquial compound meaning a discounted price offered as a gesture of goodwill, do not confuse 友情 (friendship/feelings) with 友谊 (friendship/relationship) in literary contexts requiring the relational sense

Origin & History

友 (friend — two right hands joined together, symbolizing mutual support) + 情 (feeling/emotion — 忄heart + 青 pure; sincere feeling from the heart)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal