22 Ways to Say Friend in Chinese for Every Type of Relationship
Those starting to learn Chinese quickly discover that 朋友 (péng you) is the word for "friend," but similar to English, Mandarin has many ways to talk about different kinds of friendships.
Whether you mean your closest companion, a work colleague, or any other type of associate, this post will teach you all the Chinese terms for "friend."
朋友 (péng you): The Most Common Way to Say “Friend”
This is the most widely used term for "friend" in Mandarin Chinese. It can describe any type of friend, from a casual contact to a trusted intimate.
The term is made of two characters: 朋 (péng) signifies "friend" or "companion," and 友 (yǒu) means "friend" or "buddy."
You can use 朋友 to speak to someone directly or to discuss friends in a general sense. For example:
这是我的朋友。 ( z hè shì wǒ de péng you) — This is my friend
朋友们一起出去吃饭。 (péng you men yì qǐ chū qù chī fàn) — The friends are going out to eat together.
As shown above, the word 朋友 can refer to a single friend or a group of friends.
You can manage quite well just knowing the word 朋友 for "friend" in Chinese. However, for relationships with more subtlety, many other words for "friend" exist. To learn new ways to refer to a friend effectively, you might consider a program that shows vocabulary in context, like Lingflix. Lingflix uses authentic videos—such as music videos, movie trailers, news, and inspiring talks—and transforms them into personalized language lessons.You can try Lingflix for free for 2 weeks. Visit the website or download the iOS app or Android app.P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)
Other Ways to Say “Friend” in Chinese
知己 (zhī jǐ) — Intimate friend
Is someone more than just a friend to you? Use this word for your closest friend who understands you on a deep level. This expression conveys a profound sense of mutual understanding.
You would usually save 知己 for those special people who genuinely know you inside out and with whom you share a powerful emotional bond.
好朋友 (hǎo péng you) — Good friend
This is a general term for a friend who is reliable and close, though not necessarily as deeply connected as a 知己. You can use 好朋友 to talk about friends with whom you have a solid and positive relationship. These are the friends you like to spend time with, share life experiences with, and offer mutual support.
亲友 (qīn yǒu) — Dear friend
This word joins 亲 (qīn), meaning "close" or "dear," with 友 (yǒu), meaning "friend." 亲友 is frequently used to describe friends who are more than just casual contacts but share a more significant and meaningful bond. These are the friends you would likely seek out for support when you need it!
好友 (hǎo yǒu) — Good friend
好友 also means "good friend" but is a less formal term compared to the previous two. It can include a wider spectrum of friendships, covering both intimate and less intimate friends. You can use it to refer to friends with whom you have a positive relationship, whether they are very close or more casual acquaintances.
亲近的人 (qīn jìn de rén) — Close Person
This is another expression used to talk about family members or friends with whom you share a strong emotional connection and intimacy. It often refers to those people who know you well, with whom you share your personal thoughts and feelings, and who are a fundamental part of your life.
同志 (tóng zhì) — Comrade
Initially used to refer to comrades in a political or revolutionary setting, this term has also described people who share a common objective, ideology, or purpose. It can suggest unity and solidarity, often used within socialist or communist groups.
More recently, the term has also been adopted to refer to people in the LGBTQ+ community, especially in Mainland China, where it has gained a more informal meaning associated with sexual orientation and gender identity.
老朋友 (lǎo péng you) — Old friend
老朋友 directly translates to "old friend." It's used to refer to someone with whom you have a long-lasting relationship or friendship. It's often used to describe friends you've known for a considerable amount of time, no matter the degree of closeness.
老友 (lǎo yǒu) — Old friend/buddy
老友 also means "old friend," but it has a more informal and conversational tone. This term can feel somewhat nostalgic and is often used in a casual or friendly context, similar to how you might say "old buddy" or "pal" in English.
志同道合的人 (zhì tóng dào hé de rén) — Like-minded individuals
People who share the same ambitions and principles are often called 志同道合的人. This term refers to people who have similar aims, values, beliefs, or interests.
Essentially, the term stresses the idea that these individuals not only have common interests but also share a deep alignment in their values and goals, which creates a meaningful connection between them. It's used to emphasize the unity and fellowship among like-minded people.
闺蜜 (guī mì) — Best friend (between females)
This is a Chinese term that highlights the intimate and close relationship between two female friends. The characters 闺 (guī) and 蜜 (mì) mean "room" and "close" respectively. Combined, they express the idea of a friend who is so close it's as if they share the same room or deepest secrets.
伙伴 (huǒ bàn) — Partner
This term includes the idea of a companion or collaborator with whom you take part in shared activities, projects, or journeys. It can refer to different kinds of partnerships, including work partners, study partners, and travel companions. This is the word you'd use for your friend who's always ready for a spontaneous road trip or your tennis doubles partner.
同伴 (tóng bàn) — Companion
同伴 also means "companion" or "mate," but it highlights the idea of someone who joins you or shares an experience with you. It suggests that you are undergoing something together. The term can describe travel companions, friends who pursue hobbies together, or partners in various activities.
伴侣 (bàn lǚ) — Companion
This word refers to a companion or partner in a wider sense and can be used to describe everything from spouses to a cherished pet to a business partner. It indicates a deep and dedicated relationship.
同学 (tóng xué) — Schoolmate
This refers to a person who has gone to the same school as you, either at the same time or previously. It's used in much the same way as "schoolmate" in English.
同事 (tóng shì) — Colleague
Use this for a person who works with you in the same organization. 同事 emphasizes professional relationships rather than personal ones, and it's a neutral term used to address and refer to people in a work context. Whether they are close collaborators or people you interact with minimally, they can all be called 同事.
哥们儿 (gē men er) — (Male) Buddy/pal (Beijing dialect)
哥们儿 is a colloquial term from the Beijing dialect. It's an informal and friendly way to refer to a male friend, and it carries a feeling of camaraderie and closeness. This term is often used between close buddies to address each other in a casual and affectionate way. It's similar to saying "buddy" or "pal" in English and reflects a relaxed and informal relationship between friends.
女性朋友 (nǚ xìng péng you) — Female friend, and 男性朋友 (nánxìng péngyou) — Male friend
To specify a male friend, you can use 男性朋友 (nán xìng péng you), where 男性 (nán xìng) means male. For a female friend, you use 女性朋友 (nǚ xìng péng you), with 女性 (nǚ xìng) meaning "female."
These terms clearly state the gender of the friend without suggesting a romantic involvement.
兄弟 (xiōng dì) — Brother, and 姐妹 (jiě mèi) — Sister
When you call a friend a brother or sister, you're emphasizing the emotional bond and closeness you share. It implies that you think of your friend as family and that you feel a strong sense of loyalty and concern for them.
哥哥 (gē ge) — Bro, and 姐姐 (jiě jie) — Sis
These more casual terms come from shortening "brother" and "sister." You are likely familiar with their use in English, where they are used in a very similar way.
女朋友 (nǚ péng you) — Girlfriend, and 男朋友 (nán péng you) — Boyfriend
女朋友 is used to refer to a female romantic partner, while 男朋友 is the Chinese word for "boyfriend." Both are used for romantic partners.
女友 (nǚ yǒu) — Girlfriend, and 男友 (nán yǒu) — Boyfriend
You might hear younger people use these shortened forms. These terms are informal but are becoming more and more common, particularly online and on social media.
Try using the different ways to say "friend" in Chinese with your Chinese-speaking friends!
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