朋友
péngyou/pʰɤŋ³⁵ joʊ̯³/
The Chinese word for pal is 朋友 (péngyou).
朋友 is a general term for a friend. While it can refer to both platonic friends and romantic partners, the specific nature of the relationship is usually understood through the context of the conversation.
Meaning: (colloquial) a friend (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 朋友 is a neutral way to say friend, you can use 好朋友 to mean a "good friend" or "best pal", as adding 好 (hǎo, good) makes the relationship sound more intimate. For a more informal or specific nuance, you might use 哥们儿, which is popular among guys and signifies a closer friendship or the slang term 老铁, which literally means "old iron" and refers to a loyal friend or comrade.
How does it change in a sentence?
To change the singular 朋友 into the plural "friends", you can add the suffix 们 (men) to form 朋友们.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is péngyou and the IPA is /pʰɤŋ³⁵ joʊ̯³/.
Did you know?
- The character 朋 (péng) originally depicted two strings of shells or cowrie shells hanging together. This ancient imagery represents the idea of things that are aligned or complementary.
- Chinese culture sometimes uses the term 酒友 (jiǔyǒu), which literally means 'alcohol friend'. This describes a person you only hang out with for drinking, regardless of whether you are close in other areas of life.
- The slang term 老铁 (lǎo tiě) originated from the Northeastern dialect of China before becoming a nationwide internet meme. It suggests a bond as unbreakable as 'old iron'.
Examples in context
- 你好，伙计！Hello, pal!
- 嘿，哥们儿，你想一起去看电影吗？Hey, pal, do you want to go to the movies together?
- 老铁，感谢你一直支持我！Pal, thank you for always supporting me!
- 他是我的好朋友。Tā shì wǒ de hǎo péngyou.He is my good friend.
- 我想找个朋友聊天。Wǒ xiǎng zhǎo gè péngyou liáotiān.I want to find a friend to chat with.
- 我们是多年的朋友了。Wǒmen shì duōnián de péngyou le.We have been friends for many years.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are talking during a coffee break.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你认识他吗？Nǐ rènshi tā ma?Do you know him?
- 俊杰 Junjie他是我的老朋友。Tā shì wǒ de lǎo péngyou.He is an old friend of mine.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你们经常见面吗？Nǐmen jīngcháng jiànmiàn ma?Do you two meet often?
- 俊杰 Junjie不经常，但他是个好朋友。Bù jīngcháng, dàn tā shì gè hǎo péngyou.Not often, but he is a good friend.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 朋友, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
