难兄难弟 nán xiōng nán dì brothers in adversity

Explanation

指共患难的人，或彼此处于同样困境的人，表达一种同病相怜，互相扶持的情感。

Refers to people who have shared hardships, or those who are in the same predicament, expressing a feeling of sympathy and mutual support.

Origin Story

东汉时期，陈寔父子兄弟几人，都以清廉正直闻名于乡里。陈寔的长子元方和次子季方，更是品德高尚，先后被朝廷重用，画像悬挂于颖川城墙，成为百姓效仿的榜样。后世有人问陈寔，元方和季方谁的功劳更大，陈寔笑着说："元方难为兄，季方难为弟。"他感叹元方作为兄长，要以身作则，处处为弟弟着想，而季方作为弟弟，也要以兄长为榜样，努力向上。这兄弟二人，在各自的岗位上，都在尽心尽力为百姓服务，互相扶持，共同进步。他们的这种兄弟情谊，也成为后人津津乐道的佳话，正是"难兄难弟"最好的诠释。

dōnghàn shíqī, chén shí fùzǐ xiōngdì jǐ rén, dōu yǐ qīnglián zhèngzhí wénmíng yú xiānglǐ. chén shí de chángzǐ yuánfāng hé cìzǐ jìfāng, gèng shì pǐndé gāoshàng, xiānhòu bèi cháoting chóngyòng, huàxiàng xuánguà yú yíngchuān chéngqiáng, chéngwéi bǎixìng xiào fǎng de bǎngyàng. hòushì yǒurén wèn chén shí, yuánfāng hé jìfāng shuí de gōngláo gèng dà, chén shí xiàozhe shuō: 'yuánfāng nán wéi xiōng, jìfāng nán wéi dì.' tā tánhàn yuánfāng zuòwéi xiōngzhǎng, yào yǐ shēn zuòzé, chǔchù wèi dìdì zhuōxiǎng, ér jìfāng zuòwéi dìdì, yě yào yǐ xiōngzhǎng wéi bǎngyàng, nǔlì wàngshàng. zhè xiōngdì èrén, zài gèzì de gǎnwèi shàng, dōu zài jìnxīn jìnlì wèi bǎixìng fúwù, hù xiāng fúcí, gòngtóng jìnbù. tāmen de zhè zhǒng xiōngdì qíngyì, yě chéngwéi hòurén jīnjīn dàodě de jiāhuà, zhèngshì 'nán xiōng nán dì' zuì hǎo de qiǎnshì.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Chen Shi and his sons and brothers were known for their integrity and uprightness. Chen Shi's eldest son, Yuanfang, and his second son, Jifang, were particularly virtuous and were successively employed by the court. Their portraits were hung on the city walls of Yingchuan and served as role models for the people. Later, someone asked Chen Shi who had made greater contributions, Yuanfang or Jifang, to which Chen Shi smiled and said, "It was difficult for Yuanfang to be the elder brother, and it was difficult for Jifang to be the younger brother." He lamented that Yuanfang, as the elder brother, had to set an example and always think of his younger brother, while Jifang, as the younger brother, had to look up to his elder brother and strive to improve himself. These two brothers, in their respective positions, were dedicated to serving the people, supporting each other, and making progress together. Their brotherhood became a well-known story, admired to this day, and a perfect illustration of "nán xiōng nán dì."

Usage

通常用于形容两个人或几个在困境中互相帮助、互相支持的关系。

tōngcháng yòngyú xíngróng liǎng gè rén huò jǐ gè zài kùnjìng zhōng hù xiāng bāngzhù, hù xiāng zhīchí de guānxi.

It is usually used to describe the relationship between two or more people who help and support each other in difficulties.

Examples

• 他们两人同甘共苦，患难与共，真是难兄难弟。

  tāmen liǎng gèrén tóng gāan gòng kǔ, huàn nàn yǔ gòng, zhēnshi nán xiōng nán dì

  They shared joys and sorrows together, suffering and sharing difficulties. They are really brothers in adversity.

• 面对困境，这两个难兄难弟互相鼓励，最终挺了过来。

  miàn duì kùnjìng, zhè liǎng gè nán xiōng nán dì hù xiāng gǔlì, zuì zhōng tǐng le guòlái

  In the face of difficulties, these two brothers in adversity encouraged each other and finally survived.

Related Idioms

• 患难之交

• 同舟共济

Opposite Idioms

• 反目成仇

• 势不两立