Friend in Chinese
The Chinese word for "friend" is 朋友 (péng you). It is built from "朋友 = 朋 + 友, two characters that both mean friend or companion". 朋友 is the everyday word for friend, but add 男 or 女 in front and it means boyfriend or girlfriend, not a male or female friend.
Chinese words for friend
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 朋友 | péng you | friend | The default answer. |
| 好朋友 | hǎo péng you | good friend, close friend | A close friend; 最好的朋友 is your best friend. |
| 男朋友 | nán péng you | boyfriend | Only a romantic partner, never simply a friend who is male. |
| 女朋友 | nǚ péng you | girlfriend | Only a romantic partner, never simply a friend who is female. |
| 老朋友 | lǎo péng you | old friend | Someone you have known for a long time, whatever their age. |
| 同学 | tóng xué | classmate, schoolmate | People you study or studied with; often used where English says 'friend from school'. |
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这是我的朋友小王。 | zhè shì wǒ de péng you Xiǎo Wáng. | This is my friend Xiao Wang. |
| 我们是好朋友。 | wǒ men shì hǎo péng you. | We are good friends. |
| 你有男朋友吗？ | nǐ yǒu nán péng you ma? | Do you have a boyfriend? |
| 周末我去见一个老朋友。 | zhōu mò wǒ qù jiàn yī gè lǎo péng you. | This weekend I'm meeting an old friend. |
The characters in 朋友
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| 朋 | péng | friend, companion |
| 友 | you | friend; read yǒu on its own and in most words |
Common mistakes
- 男朋友 and 女朋友 mean boyfriend and girlfriend. For a friend who happens to be male, say 一个朋友 or 一个男性朋友.
- 友 is neutral in 朋友 (péng you) but keeps its third tone in words like 友谊 (yǒu yì) and 好友 (hǎo yǒu).
- 老朋友 means a friend of many years, not an elderly friend.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How do you say friend in Chinese?
朋友 (péng you), literally "朋友 = 朋 + 友, two characters that both mean friend or companion". Other ways: 好朋友 (hǎo péng you); 男朋友 (nán péng you); 女朋友 (nǚ péng you).
How do you say 'best friend' in Chinese?
最好的朋友 (zuì hǎo de péng you). Young women often call a close female friend 闺蜜 (guī mì).
How do I introduce a friend?
Say 这是我的朋友 followed by the name, for example 这是我的朋友安娜 (This is my friend Anna).
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