刎颈之交 Sworn brothers
Explanation
指可以同生死、共患难的朋友，感情深厚，生死与共。
Refers to friends who are willing to share life and death together, with a deep and lifelong friendship.
Origin Story
战国时期，赵国名将廉颇和蔺相如同为赵国效力，两人因性格和处事方式不同，产生过一些摩擦。廉颇曾扬言要羞辱蔺相如，蔺相如为了国家大义，一再忍让。后来，廉颇了解到蔺相如的为人后，深感自责，便负荆请罪，两人从此结为生死之交，成为千古佳话。这便是“刎颈之交”的由来，体现了他们之间的深厚友谊以及为了国家大义而互相理解、互相包容的精神。
During the Warring States period in China, the famous general Lian Po and the diplomat Lin Xiangru both served the state of Zhao. Due to their different personalities and working styles, there were some frictions between them. Lian Po once announced that he would humiliate Lin Xiangru, but Lin Xiangru repeatedly avoided confrontation for the sake of national interests. Later, after Lian Po understood Lin Xiangru's character, he deeply regretted his behavior and apologized. From then on, they became brothers in spirit and became a well-known story. This is the origin of "Wěn jǐng zhī jiāo", which shows their deep friendship and their mutual understanding and tolerance for the sake of the nation.
Usage
用来形容情同手足，生死与共的朋友。
Used to describe friends who are like brothers and are willing to share life and death together.
Examples
-
廉颇和蔺相如是刎颈之交。
lián pō hé lìng xiāng rú shì wěn jǐng zhī jiāo
Lian Po and Lin Xiangru were sworn brothers.
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他们两人是患难与共的刎颈之交。
tāmen liǎng gè rén shì huàn nàn yǔ gòng de wěn jǐng zhī jiāo
They were sworn brothers who shared weal and woe together.