朋

péng

Definitions

péng (noun) friend

Etymology

Depicts a pair of strings of jade mounted together. The meaning later shifted to "friend". Not related to 月 (moon), despite the visual similarity.

About

Originating as an ideogram of two strings of cowry shells, early Chinese currency, the character 朋 visually depicts a pair of equal items side by side. This representation of equivalent value and companionship led to its meaning of peers or equals, eventually becoming the standard word for friend. While its modern form appears as two 月 characters, these are graphical simplifications of the original cowry strings, not the moon or flesh radicals.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的朋友很多。

Wǒ de péngyou hěn duō.

I have many friends.

我和朋友去公园。

Wǒ hé péngyou qù gōngyuán.

I go to the park with friends.

这个朋友很友好。

Zhège péngyou hěn yǒuhǎo.

This friend is very friendly.

她是我最好的朋友。

Tā shì wǒ zuì hǎo de péngyou.

She is my best friend.

朋友们都来参加聚会。

Péngyoumen dōu lái cānjiā jùhuì.

Friends all come to attend the party.

我经常和朋友们一起学习。

Wǒ jīngcháng hé péngyoumen yīqǐ xuéxí.

I often study together with friends.

在新学校，我交到了新朋友。

Zài xīn xuéxiào, wǒ jiāo dào le xīn péngyou.

At the new school, I made new friends.

虽然我们相距遥远，但仍然是好朋友。

Suīrán wǒmen xiāngjù yáoyuǎn, dàn réngrán shì hǎo péngyou.

Although we are far apart, we are still good friends.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 月

朋