essay on my best friend in chinese

#4 My Best Friend in China - 我最好的中国朋友 | Chinese Reading

I have many Chinese friends since I came to China. Today, I'd like to introduce My best Chinese friend, Liu Jie. 我有很多中国朋友, 我最好的中国朋友是刘洁。

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10 Ways to Say “Best Friend” in Chinese

The Chinese word for friend is 朋友 péngyou . An easy way to remember the characters is to think of two moons standing beside each other (朋 péng ), holding hands (友 yǒu ).

So, how do you say “best friend” in Chinese? You can describe your best friend as 我的好朋友 Wǒde hǎo péngyou (“My good friend”), 我的老朋友 Wǒde lǎo péngyou (“My old friend”), or 我最好的朋友 Wǒ zuìhǎode péngyou (“My best friend”).

Native speakers use a confusing array of words in Chinese, depending on the particular relationship. This article will explore some of the more interesting ways Chinese best friends refer to one another.

​​1. 死党 – Sǐdǎng

The Chinese character 党 dǎng means group or party, seen in such common phrases as 党员 dǎngyuán (“party member”) or the 中国共产党 Zhōngguó gòngchǎndǎng (“Chinese Communist Party,” or CCP).

In ancient times, the expression 死党 sǐdǎng referred to someone willing to sacrifice their life for another person or group. Nowadays, it is used both by males and females to refer to a close friend, but the phrase still retains the nuance of loyalty and trust.

Your 死党 sǐdǎng , then, is your most trusted friend , someone you can rely on during hard times, a friend who will stick with you through thick and thin. You keep no secrets from your 死党 sǐdǎng , and you can talk about anything together.

For example,

她只有跟死党才会无话不谈。

Tā zhǐyǒu gēn sǐdǎng cái huì wúhuàbùtán.

She only speaks her mind with her closest friends.

​​2. 至交 – Zhìjiāo

A more formal phrase, you can use 至交 zhìjiāo to refer to your most important friends , those who know you better than anyone. In English, 至交 zhìjiāo is usually translated as best, closest, or “most intimate friend.”

Used both by men and by women, 至交 zhìjiāo usually describes relationships between older people , those who have enjoyed a long friendship lasting many years.

甚至他至交也从未怀疑过她是同性恋。

Shènzhì tā zhìjiāo yě cóngwèi huáiyí guò tā shì tóngxìngliàn.

Even his most intimate friends never suspected he was gay.

​​3. 发小(儿) – Fàxiǎo(‘r)

Another way to say best friend in Mandarin, 发小 fàxiǎo means “ childhood friend ,” someone who you grew up with and have kept in close touch with ever since.

Your 发小 fàxiǎo (“childhood friend”) might be a close friend you’ve known since kindergarten or someone you used to spend time with when you were small. Most likely, your families knew each other too.

发小 Fàxiǎo comes from the Beijing dialect, and its origin is unclear. Though the phrase is still more common in the north—where it is pronounced 发小儿 fàxiǎo’r— these days it is used all over China.

赵坤是我的发小。 当我们还穿着尿布的时候我就认识他了。

Zhào Kūn shì wǒde fàxiǎo. Dāng wǒmen hái chuānzhe niàobù de shíhòu wǒ jiù rènshí tā le.

Zhao Kun is my childhood friend. I’ve known him since we were still in diapers.

​​4. 姐妹 – Jiěmèi

Implementing the one-child policy in China meant that most people born on the mainland between 1980 and 2015 had no siblings. However, it’s still common to hear female friends or cousins refer to each other as 姐妹 jiěmèi ( “sisters” ).

While it’s not wrong for men to describe a female friend as their 姐妹 jiěmèi , the word sounds quite feminine, so it’s mainly used to refer to a woman’s best friend.

​​5. 兄弟 – Xiōngdì

Just as close female friends often refer to themselves as “sisters” in Chinese, it’s common to hear men refer to a male friend as their 兄弟 xiōngdì (“ brother “).

Though the word refers only to men, it’s becoming increasingly common for women to refer to a close male friend as their 兄弟 xiōngdì .

​​5. 哥们(儿) – Gēmen(‘r)

哥们儿 Gēmen’r (“brothers”) is a colloquial phrase used to refer to your best male friends . Both men and women can call their male friends 哥们儿 gēmen’r.

​​Though 哥们儿 gēmen’r means “brother,” it’s not used to refer to your biological brothers. Instead, the phrase is akin to “bro” or “buddy” in English.

今晚别等我了，我要和我的哥们儿出去喝酒。

Jīnwǎn bié děng wǒ le, wǒ yào hé wǒde gēmen’r chūqù hē jiǔ.

Don’t wait for me tonight. I’m going out drinking with my buddies.

​​6. 闺蜜 – Guīmì

Another phrase with a long history that has been revived in modern times, 闺蜜 guīmì, originally meant a room where unmarried women lived together.

The phrase is made up of the Chinese characters 闺 guī , meaning “chamber” or “boudoir,” and 蜜 mì , meaning “honey” or “sweet.”

These days, 闺蜜 guīmì is used exclusively by women to refer to an intimate female friend, someone you share your secrets with . 闺蜜 guīmì means girlfriend (but not a romantic partner) or “ bestie ” in Chinese.

闺蜜 G uīmì are a woman’s best friends, those whom she can talk to about her feelings or discuss love , marriage, and men .

这种事情我不会跟老公谈，我只会和我的闺蜜谈谈。

Zhèzhǒng shìqing wǒ bùhuì gēn lǎogōng tán. Wǒ zhǐ huì hé wǒde guīmì tántán.

I can’t speak to my husband about this sort of thing. I can only tell my girlfriend.

​​7.挚友 – Zhìyǒu

​​挚友 Z hìyǒu is a more formal phrase meaning “ intimate friend .”

It can sound a little old-fashioned when spoken aloud. However, you can use it to tell “best friend” in Chinese writing, as in the following examples:

你是一位难得的挚友，我很珍惜我们的友情。

Nǐ shì yīwèi nándéde zhìyǒu, wǒ hěn zhēnxī wǒmende yǒuqíng.

You’re a true friend, and I cherish our friendship.

好书如 挚友 ，情谊永不渝。

Hǎo shū rú zhìyǒu, qíngyì yǒng bùyú.

A good book is the best of friends, and the friendship will never change.

8. 世交 – Shìjiāo世交

Shìjiāo is a traditional Chinese word, meaning a friendship spanning two or more generations .

You can use 世交 shìjiāo to refer to an old family friend or to describe families that have maintained a close relationship across generations.

This was likely to mean ties created through marriage in a former time, but it can describe any old family friend in modern Chinese.

Wángjiā gēn Lǐ jiā shì shìjiāo

The Wangs and the Lis are old family friends.

​​9. 老铁 – Lǎotiě

老铁 Lǎotiě literally means “old iron.” The word originally came from a northeastern Chinese dialect.

Winter in northern China is icy cold, often far below freezing. The story is that children would lick the frozen metal of an iron pole as a joke or dare, thereby risking freezing their tongue against the metal.

If you were unfortunate enough to get stuck, you’d need a true friend to breathe warm air against the pole to free your tongue. The friend who saved you from this predicament is your 老铁 lǎotiě .

Nowadays, people across China use 老铁 lǎotiě to refer to those they form very close friendships with . It’s ubiquitous on Chinese social media platforms such as WeChat or Weibo, where it means “buddy,” “dude,” or “bro.”

Referring to someone as your 老铁 lǎotiě is a sign that your relationship is an intimate one . You can say things to each other that you wouldn’t say to a colleague or casual friend.

Nǐ zuìjìn zhǎngpàngle bùshǎo a.

You look like you’ve gained some weight recently.

扎心了，老铁！ 牛仔裤都穿不上了！

Zhāxīnle, lǎotiě! Niúzǎikù dōu chuānbushàng le!

Dude, it’s breaking my heart (lit. “stab my heart, old iron!”). I can’t even get my jeans on!

​​10. 贴心朋友 – Tiēxīnpéngyou

The Chinese character 贴 tiē means “to stick” or “to glue.” 贴心 tiēxīn literally means “sticks to the heart” and translates into English as “intimate” or “close.”

Your 贴心朋友 tiēxīnpéngyou are your closest confidants, your best friends , the ones who accompany you during difficult situations and stick with you through thick and thin .

​If you’ve read this far, you’ll not only know what is “best friend” in Chinese but also have a few examples of how the various phrases are used in daily life. You’ll know how to refer to a man’s or a woman’s best friends, your girlfriend or your sworn brother, those who accompany you even through challenging times, and those you miss the most when you are apart.

Whether in everyday speech, formal writing, or when joking with your buddies online, you’ll have the words you need to speak about true friendship in Chinese.

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The Nuances and Depth of Friendship in Chinese Culture

Friendship holds great meaning in Chinese culture. Unlike Western notions of friendship that focus on shared interests and quality time together, the Chinese concept of friendship (友谊, yǒuyì) runs much deeper. Friendship in China is viewed as a lifelong bond infused with obligation, respect, loyalty and honor. There are even unique words in Chinese that depict different types of friends and levels of friendship that don’t have direct equivalents in English.

Table of Contents

The Importance of Guanxi – Personal Relationships

An essential element of Chinese culture that underlies their concept of friendship is guanxi (關系). Guanxi refers to the system of social networks, connections and relationships that Chinese people cultivate throughout their lives. It essentially means having personal access to resources and opportunities through one’s network of relationships.

Unlike Western cultures that focus more on the individual, China traditionally values collective, hierarchical relationships rooted in Confucian ethics. Guanxi emphasizes reciprocity, indebtedness, loyalty and obligation between people in order to function smoothly in society.

The type of guanxi developed with someone determines the expectations and responsibilities between the two parties. Family members, schoolmates, co-workers all have different guanxi dynamics. Friendship is one of the most valued types of guanxi bond in Chinese society.

Chinese Words for Different Types of Friends

The Chinese language reflects how the Chinese people conceptualize friendship and social relationships. There are unique vocabularies and characters that depict different types of friends and social circles:

朋友 (péngyǒu) – Friend

This is the most common, all-encompassing word used for a friend. It refers to someone you know well, get along with and trust. In Chinese culture, 朋友 connotes a close, loyal relationship and someone you rely on for the long term.

闺蜜/男闺蜜 (guīmì/nánguīmì) – Best friend

A 闺蜜 is a sworn best friend, almost like a sister. It originally referred to a female confidante but can also be used for very close male friendships (男闺蜜). This is someone you share your deepest secrets with and will be there for you through thick and thin.

老友 (lǎoyǒu) – Old friend

An old friend refers to someone you’ve known for a long time, perhaps from childhood or school days. The relationship is characterized by fond memories and nostalgia.

知己 (zhījǐ) – Kindred spirit

This refers to a like-minded friend who “gets” you and shares similar interests, values and outlook on life. It’s a deep spiritual connection.

交心之交 (jiāoxīn zhī jiāo) – Bosom friend

This exaggerates the intimacy of a friendship, similar to a bosom buddy or soulmate in English. It conveys unconditional trust and affection between two people.

工作伙伴/战友 (gōngzuò huǒbàn/zhànyǒu) – Colleague

Chinese also have nuanced ways of referring to professional friendships at work or school. 工作伙伴 are colleagues who cooperate together daily. 战友 emphasizes being allies under challenging circumstances.

Behavior Reflecting Close Bonds

Chinese culture places great importance on actions, not just words, for demonstrating the depth of a friendship. Certain behaviors characterize close friendships:

Favors and Exchanging Gifts

Friends readily do favors for one another and exchange gifts to cement their guanxi. The value of gifts or favors is usually reciprocal to the closeness of the relationship. Closer friends require more extravagant exchanges.

Addressing Each Other by Nicknames

Using intimate nicknames reflects informality between good friends. Only close friends would address each other with 老张 (Old Zhang) or 小王 (Little Wang) rather than formal names.

Speaking With Candid Honesty

Chinese people emphasize politeness and saving face in public. But with intimate friends, they unleash their unfiltered thoughts and feelings. Speaking recklessly signals trusting a friend to not judge.

Sharing Personal Problems

Confiding in someone about issues means you consider them highly trustworthy. Chinese people tend to share personal problems only with their innermost circle of confidantes.

Spending Time Together

Chinese friendships thrive on hanging out frequently, especially over mealtimes. Groups of friends eat together daily and bond during holidays and events. Quality face time nurtures friendship ties.

Loyalty and Obligation Between Friends

Unlike Western friendships that may come and go, Chinese expect friends to remain loyal for life. Friendship is heavily dictated by social rituals and mutual indebtedness.

Repaying Favors

Friends must repay any favor or gift received based on the context. Not reciprocating breaks trust and ruins the friendship. There is pressure to avoid owing anyone.

Saving Face for Friends

Chinese people are careful not to let friends lose social face or reputation. They’ll defend a friend’s honor and avoid publicly criticizing them. Supporting them even when privately disapproving shows loyalty.

Making Personal Sacrifices

True friends should make sacrifices when needed, whether lending money or connections. There’s an obligation to pool resources and help friends in hardship, even at personal cost.

Being Available When Called Upon

Friends make themselves available to socialize and assist whenever needed. Declining might signal disloyalty. Availability reflects willingness to maintain the friendship.

Publicly Honoring Friends

At events and holidays, Chinese people acknowledge important friends. Giving public praise, toasts and ample gifts before witnesses demonstrates friendship.

Proverbs on Friendship

Chinese proverbs offer wisdom and guidance on friendship and its value in human relations:

“亲兄弟明算账” – Brothers count up accounts clearly

This proverb means even the closest kin must be clear in lending and borrowing money from each other. By extension, good friends should be upfront about debts and favors owed rather than jeopardize the friendship over money.

“患难见真情” – In times of hardship, one sees true feelings

Friendships are proven not during happy times but when one falls into difficult situation. Who still stands by you reveals who is a true friend.

“物以类聚,人以群分” – Things gather in groups; people gather in groups

This describes how social relationships form naturally. People gravitate subconsciously toward others of similar backgrounds, interests and temperaments.

“浪迹天涯,共剪西窗烛” – Roam the world together, trim the candle together

This poem describes adventure and lasting friendship. Good friends remain loyal companions through all of life’s journeys.

“一日之交,终生难忘” – A friendship made in a day, never forgotten for life

Some friendships form quickly but create an imprint that lasts forever. The bond between true friends withstands time.

Friendship holds much greater meaning, obligations and significance in Chinese culture compared to Western friendship. But at its core, the spirit of true friendship remains constant across all cultures. Friends are the family we choose, who walk with us along life’s twisting paths – in good times and bad. The enrichment that friendship adds to our lives is universally understood.

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Guide: How to Say “My Best Friend” in Chinese

Gaining fluency in a foreign language means not only learning vocabulary and grammar but also understanding how people express different ideas and concepts. In Chinese culture, friendship holds immense value, and knowing how to refer to your best friend in Chinese can deepen your connections with native speakers. In this guide, we will explore multiple ways to express “my best friend” in Chinese, both formally and informally. While regional variations exist, we will focus on the common Mandarin Chinese used by over 900 million people worldwide.

Table of Contents

Formal Ways to Say “My Best Friend”

When it comes to formal ways to express “my best friend” in Chinese, you can use the following phrases:

• 我最好的朋友 (wǒ zuì hǎo de péngyǒu) – This phrase evokes a sense of close friendship, emphasizing the “best” aspect. It is the most common and versatile way to express “my best friend” in Chinese, suitable for most formal situations.
• 我最要好的朋友 (wǒ zuì yào hǎo de péngyǒu) – Similar to the previous phrase, this version adds an extra layer of intimacy and emphasis, conveying the idea of an irreplaceable best friend.

Informal Ways to Say “My Best Friend”

When communicating informally, such as among friends or peers, you can use these casual expressions to refer to your best friend:

• 我闺蜜 (wǒ guī mì) – This term originated from internet slang and has become popular among young people in China. It refers to a female best friend and carries a sense of sisterhood and close bonding.
• 我哥们 (wǒ gē men) – Commonly used among males, this phrase conveys a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie. It is an informal way to refer to a male best friend and can also be used colloquially among female friends.

Examples in Context

Let’s explore some examples of how these phrases can be used in sentences:

我最好的朋友是我的大学同学，我们一起度过了许多快乐的时光。 Translation: My best friend is my college classmate; we have spent many happy times together.

我最要好的朋友帮助我度过了人生中最困难的时刻，我非常感激她。 Translation: My closest friend helped me through the most challenging moment in my life, and I am incredibly grateful to her.

我闺蜜跟我分享了所有的秘密，我们彼此无所不谈。 Translation: My best female friend has shared all her secrets with me, and we talk about everything.

我哥们是我人生中最靠得住的人，无论什么时候我需要他，他总是在我身边。 Translation: My best male friend is the most reliable person in my life; whenever I need him, he is always by my side.

Regional Variations

While Mandarin Chinese is the most common form of Chinese worldwide, it is important to note that regional variations exist. These can impact the vocabulary and grammar choices when referring to your best friend. However, the phrases mentioned earlier are widely understood and used across various Chinese-speaking regions, ensuring effective communication in most situations.

Tips for Learning and Using these Phrases

Here are some tips to enhance your understanding and usage of these phrases:

• Practice pronunciation: Pay attention to the tones in each phrase, as tones in Chinese carry significant meaning. Listen to native speakers or use online resources to practice pronunciation.
• Use correct measure words: In Chinese, measure words are often used between a possessive pronoun and a noun. While not required for the phrases mentioned, it is important to learn and use the appropriate measure words in other contexts.
• Learn related vocabulary: Expand your Chinese vocabulary by learning words for emotions, activities, and descriptors. This will allow you to express your experiences and strengthen your descriptions of friendship.
• Immerse yourself in Chinese culture: Engage with Chinese music, movies, and literature to gain a deeper understanding of friendship dynamics and cultural nuances. This will help you better relate to native speakers.

Now that you are equipped with a range of phrases to express “my best friend” in Chinese, both formally and informally, you can confidently communicate with native speakers and share your experiences and emotions. Remember to practice regularly and immerse yourself in the Chinese language and culture to further enhance your language skills. Enjoy building strong friendships and engaging with Chinese speakers on a deeper level!

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• Telling Your Friend “My Dear Friend” in Japanese
• How to Say “Close Friend” in Chinese: A Comprehensive Guide
• How to Say Hello Friend in Chinese: A Comprehensive Guide
• How to Say Hi to Your Best Friend in Chinese: Formal and Informal Ways
• How to Say “I Love You” to a Friend in Chinese
• How to Say “My Friend” in Chinese
• Guide: How to Say “My Friend’s Name Is” in Chinese
• How to Say “Friend” in Chinese: Formal and Informal Ways

About The Author

Juanita Lesley

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The Essential Friendships for Chinese (Elementary)

1. 朋友 (Péngyou): friend

2. 发小 (Fàxiǎo): a childhood friend

3. 闺蜜 (Guīmì): a woman’s best female friend

4. 死党 (Sǐdǎng): sworn followers

5. 室友 (Shìyǒu): a roommate

There is a Chinese saying : a sincere friendship is worth more than even the most valuable of treasures.

(You might interested in Chinese culture, try our Chinese Culture Lessons!)

People have many types of “朋友 (péngyou) friends”: best friends, childhood friends, new friends, friends at work, girlfriends, boyfriends, and even long-lost friends. Some friends you might see every single day, and some you may only see occasionally. In Chinese, there are also many different types of friends, and today we’re going to share a few of those types with you.

Fàxiǎo I 发 小

发小 (Fàxiǎo) is a childhood friend. You met this person when you were both young, and the friendship developed naturally. Some might say that this is the best type of friend to have. These days, many working people are tired of the complicated networks inside their company and like having a 发小 (fàxiǎo) to spend time with outside of work. This kind of friend knows your past and also probably understands you at a deeper level than others. It is a comfortable, safe relationship. Do you have a friend like this?

Wǒ hé Wáng Lì cóng xiǎo wán dào dà, tā shì wǒ de fàxiǎo. 我和王丽从小玩到大，她是我的发小。 Wang Li and I have grown up playing together. She is my childhood friend.

Guīmì II 闺 蜜

This means girlfriend: a woman’s best female friend. Traditionally, “闺 (guī)” was the place where unmarried women lived, and “蜜 (mì)” literally means “honey.” guīmì)” usually trust in each other and share secrets, talk about their happy and sad experiences, have similar interests and hobbies, and maybe even have similar tastes in men.

“闺蜜 (Guīmì)” can only be used with women. What do men call their best male friends? That would be “兄弟 (xiōngdì).”

(Do You Have a Real Girlfriend or Boyfriend? If Not, Learn “单身狗 (dānshēnɡǒu) Single Dog” for You!)

Wǒ de guīmì sòng wǒ yìtiáo wéijīn. 我的闺蜜送我一条围巾。 My best friend gave me a scarf.

Sǐdǎng III死 党

“死党 (Sǐdǎng)” might sound bad, but in friendship it is definitely a good thing. “死党 (sǐdǎng)” are your best friends. They are loyal and willing to do anything to help you although sometimes they make you angry deliberately. “死党 (sǐdǎng)” is your friend through thick and thin, and the two of you share almost everything. “死党 (sǐdǎng)” may be either a male or a female. (2 Types of Friends You Should Have: “哥们儿 (Gēmen’r)” And “姐们儿 (Jiěmen’r)”)

Lǐ Míng shì wǒ de sǐdǎng. 李明是我的死党。 Li Ming is my best friend.

Shìyǒu IV 室 友

“室友 (Shìyǒu)” is a roommate. Are you friends with your roommates? Maybe not. But for Chinese youths, your roommates are very important to you. Many young people in China live in the student dormitories during their school days and are not near to their families, so these students need to spend a lot of time together and take care of each other. Generally speaking, the relationships between roommates in China are very close. Most of the “闺蜜 (guīmì)” start out as your “室友 (shìyǒu)” at first. But sometimes, a “室友 (shìyǒu)” is just a common friend.

Wǒ de yí gè shìyǒu jīntiān jiéhūn. 我的一个室友今天结婚。 One of my roommates is getting married today.

1. How does a female address her female best friend? ______ A. 兄弟 (Xiōngdì) B. 哥们儿 (Gēmenr) C. 闺蜜 (Guīmì)

2. Tom and his classmate Jack have known each other since they were in high school. They care about each other and are always there to help the other. Sometimes there are sad moments in their lives, but they are true friends no matter the obstacles. They are_______ A. 发小 (Fàxiǎo) B. 死党 (Sǐdǎng) C. 闺蜜 (Guīmì)

3. Emily and Kate have been friends since they were kids. They are_____ A. 兄弟 (Xiōngdì) B. 发小 (Fàxiǎo) C. 室友 (Shìyǒu)

Answers: 1.C        2. B        3. B

Learn How to Say “朋友 (péngyou) Friend” Through Chinese Nursery Rhymes! Where Is My Friend? Chinese Idiom: Little Dogs, My Good Friends! General Chinese (Beginner Level)

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I wont chines girl to mkae sisterhood. I love china.

I want chines girl to make freindship I love china.

How do a male call female friend in Chinese ? Same way, how do a female call male friend in Chinese ? Both are just friend and not husband-wife and not business friend. Let me know. Thanks Kalpesh Mehta from India, Harbin

Dear e-ChineseLearning Team, Thank Yu for the Clarification of “Friendship”. A couple of questions did arise. When should one use pengyou and genemr qing.88 from William

I am Indian national male. I have Chinese female friend. We are good friend apart from business. I have my own family (Indian wife and kids) and she has her own Chinese boy friend. What does this relationship call in Chinese. Let me know. Thanks

Kalpesh Mehta India.

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How to Write a Chinese Essay

Dec 16, 2020 | Guest Blogs & Media

The more essays you write, the better you get at communicating with Chinese. To write a good essay, you first have to reach a high language mastery level.

Do you admire the students who write seamless Chinese essay? If you do, then you should know that you too can achieve this level of proficiency. In the meantime, don’t be afraid to pay for your essay if you cannot write it on your own. Online academic writers are a resource each student should take advantage of.

Here are tips to help you get better at writing essays in Chinese.

Learn New Chinese Words

The key to communicating in a new language is learning as many words as you can. Take it upon yourself to learn at least one Chinese word a day. Chinese words are to essay writing what bricks are to a building. The more words you have, the better you get at constructing meaningful sentences.

Case in point, if you’re going to write a Chinese sentence that constitutes ten words, but you don’t know the right way to spell three of those words, your sentence might end up not making sense.

During your Chinese learning experience, words are your arsenal and don’t forget to master the meaning of each word you learn.

Read Chinese Literature

Reading is the most effective way of learning a new language. Remember not to read for the sake of it; find out the meaning of each new word you encounter. When you are an avid reader of Chinese literature, nothing can stop you from writing fluent Chinese.

In the beginning, it might seem like you’re not making any progress, but after a while, you will notice how drastically your writing will change. Receiving information in Chinese helps your brain get accustomed to the language’s sentence patterns, and you can translate this to your essays.

Be extensive in your reading to ensure you get as much as possible out of each article. Remember that it’s not about how fast you finish an article, but rather, how much you gain from the exercise.

Translate Articles from your Native Language to Chinese

Have you ever thought about translating your favorite read to Chinese? This exercise might be tedious, but you will learn a lot from it. The art of translation allows you to seamlessly shift from one language’s sentence pattern into the other. The more you do this, the easier it will be for your brain to convert English sentences into Chinese phrases that people can comprehend.

You can always show your Chinese professor your translations for positive criticism. The more you get corrected, the better you will get at translation. Who knows, you might actually like being a translator once you graduate.

Final Thoughts

by Adrian Lomezzo

Adrian  Lomezzo is a freelance writer. Firstly, he has been developing as a content manager and working with different websites, and the main goal of his was to develop the content making it in the first place. Secondly,  Adrian  had a big desire to help students and adults in self-development in this field and teach them to improve their skills. As a lover of traveling, he did not want to be in one place, and became a writer who could be closer to everyone, and share precious information from the corners of the world.

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How to Say Friend in Chinese: 45 Ways for Every Situation

You probably already know that “friend” in Chinese is 朋友 (péngyou), right? But there is a whole world outside of just 朋友 (péngyou) for describing friends in Chinese. People in China use a bunch of ways to say good friends, close friends, best friends, buddies, pals, and so on. These words depend on how close the relationship is and with whom they are speaking. 

In this article, we’ll show you 45 ways of saying “friend” in Mandarin Chinese from BFF to life partners and dive deeper into the different situations in which you use each one of them.

The Basic Way to Say Friend in Chinese

The basic and most common way of saying “friend” in Mandarin Chinese is 朋友 (péngyou).

It’s a typical compound word in Chinese. If you break the word into  characters , 朋 (gōng) stands for “companion”, and 友 (zuò) means “friend” (which by itself is rarely used in daily conversations). Together, they express the idea of “friend”.

• 我们是 朋友 。 Wǒmen shì péngyou . We are friends.

You can use 朋友 (péngyou) to refer to either one friend or many. For instance,

• 一个朋友 (yí gè péngyou) – a/one friend
• 五个朋友 (wǔ gè péngyou) – five friends

In many cases, the plural number of 朋友 (péngyou) is implicit. But you can add the plural number marker 们 (men) to the end to make it clear that you talking about many friends, like this:

• 朋友们 再见！ Péngyoumen  zàijiàn! Goodbye friends!

Note that 们 (men) is not to be used when there are already words indicating plurality. For instance, it’d be wrong to say 五个朋友们 (wǔ gè péngyoumen) for “five friends”. ( More on basic Chinese grammar rules )

朋友 (péngyou) can be used to talk about non-human things that are your friends as well. For instance,

• 我和邻居的 狗 成了 朋友 。 Wǒ hé línjū de  gǒu chéng le  péngyou . I became friends with my neighbor’s dog.

It’s a good idea to add 朋友 (péngyou) to your  basic Chinese vocabulary , as it’s the building block of many other friendship-related words and phrases in Chinese.  

Here are a few examples.

My friend – 我的朋友 (wǒ de péngyou)

Saying “my friend” in Chinese is straightforward. Simply add the possessive pronoun 我的 (wǒ de) – meaning “my” to the word 朋友 (péngyou) and there you have it.  

Be aware that, it’s uncommon in China to use the phrase as a friendly greeting such as “你好，我的朋友！(Nǐhǎo, wǒ de péngyou)” which is meant to convey “ Hello, my friend!”.

我的朋友 (wǒ de péngyou) is typically used when you talk about a friend of yours, introduce or describe them to other people. For example,

• 我的朋友 托马斯明天会过来。 Wǒ de péngyou  Tuōmǎsī míngtiān huì guòlái. My friend Thomas is coming over tomorrow.

In daily Chinese conversations, You might often hear the shortened version  “我朋友 (wǒ péngyou)”  instead of “我的朋友 (wǒ de péngyou)”. (The possessive particle 的 [de] can be dropped when a close personal relationship is involved.)

• 我现在去 我朋友 家。 Wǒ xiànzài qù wǒ péngyǒu  jiā. I am going over to my friend’s place now.

A friend of mine – 我的一个朋友 (wǒ de yí gè péngyou)

我的朋友 (wǒ de péngyou) usually just means “my friend”. But in a romantic context, the expression can also refer to a boyfriend/girlfriend or partner.

There are a couple of ways to introduce your platonic friend to others in Chinese, without there being any awkward misunderstandings. The most foolproof way is to say  我的一个朋友 (wǒ de yí gè péngyou) , which translates to “a friend of mine”. For example,

• 我的一个朋友 带我来过这家餐厅。 Wǒ de yí gè péngyou  dài wǒ lái guò zhè jiā cāntīng. A friend of mine has brought me to this restaurant before.

Good friend – 好朋友 (hǎo péngyou)

You probably already know that “good” in Chinese is 好 (hǎo). So to say “good friend” in Chinese, simply say 好朋友 (hǎo péngyou) .

• 你真是我的 好朋友 。 Nǐ zhēn shì wǒ de  hǎo péngyou . You’re such a good friend.

BTW,  好 (hǎo) means much more than just “good”. Read this article to learn 11 different ways of using 好 (hǎo) in Chinese .

Best friend – 最好的朋友 (zuìhǎo de péngyou)

There are a bunch of ways to refer to your best friend or close friend in Chinese, depending on the situation (more on that later), and we’ll start with 最好的朋友 (zuìhǎo de péngyou) , the direct translation of “best friend”, which is the one you’ll probably see in a Mandarin textbook.

• 阿强曾是我 最好的朋友 。 Ā  Qiáng céng shì wǒ  zuìhǎo de péngyou . A Qiang used to be my best friend.
• 书是一个人 最好的朋友 。 Shū shì yí gè rén  zuìhǎo de péngyǒu . Books are a man’s best friend.

You can add another 最 (zuì) to the beginning of 最好 (zuìhǎo) to refer to a very best friend.

• 我 最最好的朋友 要结婚了。 Wǒ  zuìzuìhǎo de péngyou  yào jiéhūn le. My very best friend is getting married.

Old friend – 老朋友 (lǎo péngyou)

For those you have known well for years, you can refer to them as 老朋友 (lǎo péngyou) in Chinese.

• 别客气，我们是 老朋友 了。 Bié kèqì, wǒmen shì  lǎo péngyou  le. Don’t stand on ceremony. We’ve been friends for ages.

In formal written Chinese, 老朋友 (lǎo péngyou) is often abbreviated as 老友 (lǎo yǒu) , hence the Chinese name of the classic American sitcom Friends – 老友记 (lǎo yǒu jì), which translates to “Old Friends Chronicles”, literally.

Boyfriend – 男朋友 (nánpéngyou)

The word for boyfriend in Chinese is 男朋友 (nánpéngyou) . You can also shorten it to 男友 (nányǒu) for the same effect.

• 对不起，我已经有 男朋友 了。 Duìbùqǐ, wǒ yǐjīng yǒu  nánpéngyou  le. Sorry, I already have a boyfriend.
• 昨天我在街上看到了我前 男友 。 Zuótiān wǒ zài jiē shàng kàn dào le wǒ qián  nányǒu . I saw my ex-boyfriend on the street yesterday.

Girlfriend – 女朋友 (nǚpéngyou)

Similarly, to say girlfriend in Chinese, you can say either 女朋友  (nǚpéngyou) or 女友 (nǚyǒu) .  

• 你的 女朋友 人呢？ Nǐ de  nǚpéngyou  rén ne? Where is your girlfriend?
• 我刚和我 女友 吵过架。 Wǒ gāng hé wǒ nǚyǒu  chǎo guò jià. I just had a fight with my girlfriend.

Male friend – 男性朋友 (nánxìng péngyou)

If you are already familiar with basic Chinese , you’ll know the word 男 (nán) means “male”. But if “male friend” is the literal meaning of 男朋友 (nánpéngyou) in Chinese, how do you actually describe a friend who happens to be a guy?

Well, to say male friend in Chinese, you say 男性朋友 (nánxìng péngyou) . 性 (xìng) means “gender”, so the phrase translates to “male gender friend”.

• 我有很多 男性朋友 。 Wǒ yǒu hěn duō nánxìng péngyǒu . I have many male friends.

Female friend – 女性朋友 (nǚxìng péngyǒu)

You’ve probably guessed it, female friend in Chinese is 女性朋友 (nǚxìng péngyǒu) , literally “female gender friend”. Don’t confuse it with 女朋友  (nǚpéngyou)!

• 别 在你女朋友面前谈你的 女性朋友 。 Bié  zài nǐ nǚpéngyou miànqián tán nǐ de  nǚxìng péngyou . Don’t talk about your female friends in front of your girlfriend.

Kid – 小朋友 (xiǎopéngyou)

The word for kids in Chinese is 孩子 (háizi), but they are also commonly referred to as 小朋友 (xiǎopéngyou) , meaning “little friend”. 

• 公园里有很多 小朋友 。 Gōngyuán lǐ yǒu hěnduō xiǎopéngyou . There are many kids in the park.

You can refer directly to a kid (or kids) with 小朋友 (xiǎopéngyou). For instance,

• 小朋友 ，你今年几岁了？ Xiǎopéngyou , nǐ jīnnián jǐ suì le? Kid, how old are you?

The Formal Way to Say Friend in Chinese  

A more formal way to say friend in Chinese is 友人 (yǒurén). If you’ve learned the HSK level 1 characters , you will recognize the second character 人 (yǒurén) which means person. Translated, 友人 (yǒurén) means friend/friendly person. So this word can only be used to refer to human friends .

友人 (yǒurén) is a very formal word because it sounds polite (probably too much). This means people rarely use it in daily conversations. You’re more likely to run across this word in written items like stories, news articles, slogans, or speeches. For instance.

• 欢迎国际 友人 来新疆旅游！ Huānyíng guójì yǒurén  lái Xīnjiāng lǚyóu! Foreign friends are welcome to visit Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region !

Basically, “foreign friend” is a nicer way of saying “foreigner” in Chinese.

Other Common Words for Friend in Chinese

Now that we’ve explained both the basic way and the formal way of saying “friend” in Chinese, we’ll guide you through some other words Chinese people commonly use to describe friends and acquaintances.

You’ll notice that the range of words referencing relationship and friendship outnumber those in English. Be careful to note the context behind a word before using it.

兄弟 (xiōngdì) – brother, friend

You will hear this word a lot when you are in China. 兄弟 (xiōngdì)  in Chinese means brother, but it is also a way of referring to a close friend and can be like a term of endearment. It’s used in an informal context and generally among boys and men.

• 干杯， 兄弟 ！ Gān bēi, xiōngdì ! Cheers, brothers!

哥们儿 (gē menr) – friend, bro, dude

A similar but slangier expression to describe a close male friend would be 哥们儿 (gē menr) . It comes from the Beijing dialect and has the same nuance as 兄弟 (xiōngdì). However, the word is not used to refer to your biological brothers.

You can make this word even stronger by saying 铁哥们儿 (tiě gē menr)  – very good friend or ”ironclad bro”.  

• 我来介绍一下，这是我的 铁哥们儿 李健。 Wǒ lái jièshào yíxià, zhè shì wǒ de tiě gē menr  Lǐ Jiàn. Let me do a quick introduction. This is my best friend Li Jian.

Though 哥们儿 (gē menr) refers only to guys, it’s becoming increasingly common for girls to refer to a close 男性朋友 (nánxìng péngyou) – male friend as their 哥们儿 (gē menr).

Additionally, 哥们儿 (gē menr) can be a slang term to address a male stranger in a similar way you would use bro or dude in English. You will know through the context of the conversation whether the person is referring to a friend or an actual stranger.  

• 哥们儿 ，你叫什么名字？ Gē menr , nǐ jiào shénme míngzì? What’s your name, bro?
• 哥们儿 ，我不在这儿工作。 Gē menr , wǒ bú zài zhèr gōngzuò. Dude, I don’t work here.

As with most slang words, you’ll want to be careful how you use it and probably avoid it unless you’re certain you’re using it in the right context – not everyone likes it.

姐妹 (jiěmèi) – sister, friend

As with “brothers” is often used by close guy friends to call each other in Chinese, it’s common to hear women refer to a female friend as their  姐妹 (jiěmèi)  – “sister“.

• 我的 姐妹 都觉得我男朋友丑。 Wǒ de  jiěmèi  dōu juéde wǒ nánpéngyou chǒu. All of my girl friends think my boyfriend is ugly.

闺蜜 (guīmì) – (a woman’s) bosom friend

One of those trendy words that pop up everywhere on Chinese social media, 闺蜜 (guīmì) is how many girls in China refer to their best female friends these days.

The word 闺蜜 (guīmì), which basically works like the female version of 哥们儿 (gē menr), is divided into two characters: 闺 (guī), which is short for 闺房 (guīfáng) – “the private room where unmarried girls live”, and 蜜 (mì) – “honey”, which is also a homophone for the character 蜜 (mì), meaning “close”.

闺蜜 (guīmì) is the kind of friends a girl can talk to about her feelings or discuss love, marriage, and men. They always got your back and share everything with you. 

• 我的 闺蜜 告诉我她打算和男朋友分手。 Wǒ de  guīmì  gàosù wǒ tā dǎsuàn hé nánpéngyou fēnshǒu. My girl friend told me she was planning on breaking up with his boyfriend.

闺蜜 (guīmì) is feminine, so it’s usually a friendship between girls. But you can also use the word on your best male friend as a joke or an endearing tease by adding 男 (nán), meaning “man” to it – 男闺蜜 (nán guīmì) .

死党 (sǐdǎng) – best friend, BFF

死党 (sǐdǎng) refers to a very best friend or group. The literal translation of the word is death gang or death party, meaning you are so close that you could die for each other.

• 我以为你是我的 死党 ，你却出卖了我。 Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ shì wǒ de  sǐdǎng , nǐ què chūmài le wǒ. I thought you were my best friend, but you betrayed me.

基友 (jī yǒu) – good buddy (very informal slang)

基友 (jī yǒu) is another internet buzzword that you would probably never find in a Mandarin textbook.   

Originally meaning “gay friend” (cuz the character 基 sounds a lot like “gay” in Cantonese ), 基友 (jī yǒu) has now become a popular Chinese word that’s used jokingly for heterosexual friends who often hang out together, regardless of gender. So a 基友 (jī yǒu) is in fact always straight.

• 我和好 基友 打了一整天游戏。 Wǒ hé hǎo  jī yǒu  dǎ le yì zhěng tiān yóuxì. I played video games with my good buddy all day.

The slang is used mostly by young people and is considered very informal speech. As such, it should be used with care.

小伙伴 (xiǎo huǒbàn) – buddy

If you are not sure about using 基友 (jī yǒu), then a common, conversational word for “buddy” you can use safely in Chinese would be 小伙伴 (xiǎo huǒbàn) , literally “little (young) buddy”. You can use it with people in your inner circle who are right on level with you, either in rank or in age (not too old though, sorry!).

Just remember that it works best when talking about someone in the third person – not directly with the person you’re describing as a buddy.

• 我的 小伙伴们 为我办了一个惊喜派对。 Wǒ de  xiǎo huǒbànmen  wèi wǒ bàn le yí gè jīngxǐ pàiduì. My buddies threw me a surprise party.

知己 (zhījǐ) – confidant(e)

Literally “know self” or “know me”, 知己 (zhījǐ) goes beyond just having fun together and surface-level conversations. Instead, it’s a friend you connect on a deeper soul level, someone you can confide in and trust with your private thoughts, and who you’re sure can keep a secret. If you’re lucky to have a couple of these friends, you can describe them with the fixed expression 三五知己 (sānwǔ zhījǐ) in Chinese.

• 老人们都喜欢约上 三五知己 ，在茶馆聊天喝茶。 Lǎorén dōu xǐhuan yuē shàng  sānwǔ zhījǐ , zài cháguǎn liáotiān hēchá. Old people like to meet up with trusted friends in tea houses to chat and drink tea.  

知己 (zhījǐ) may be applied to either gender. If you are a woman and your trusted friend is male, you can also call him your 蓝颜知己 (lányán zhījǐ) . And if you are a man and your trusted one is female, you can call her 红颜知己 (hóngyán zhījǐ) .

发小 (fàxiǎo) – childhood friend

发小 (fàxiǎo) is a childhood friend you grew up with and it has an air of nostalgia about it. Most likely, your families knew each other too.

Like 哥们儿 (gē menr), 发小 (fàxiǎo) was originally used by Beijingers, who pronounce it as 发小儿 (fàxiǎo’r). Though the word is still more common in the north – you can hear it pretty much anywhere in China these days.

• 他们俩是 发小 ，从幼儿园起就认识了。 Tāmen liǎ shì  fàxiǎo , cóng yòuéryuán qǐ jiù rènshi le. The two of them are childhood friends and had known each other since kindergarten.

忘年交  (wàngniánjiāo) – significantly older or younger friend

Age-gap friendships can be a precious thing. Are you good friends with anyone much older or younger than you? Well, you can call them 忘年交  (wàngniánjiāo) in Chinese.

• 老教授和他的学生成了 忘年交 。 Lǎo jiàoshòu hé tā de xuéshēng chéng le  wàngniánjiāo . The elderly professor and his student(s) became friends despite their age difference.

伙计 (huǒji) – pal, mate (in movies)

伙计 (huǒji) is not really a common word for friend in Chinese, but it is used by some people in northern China for an acquaintance with whom they don’t have much of a relationship (only among men).

Otherwise, 伙计 (huǒji) can sound like “translated Chinese”. Basically, you only get to hear this expression in western movies that are dubbed into Chinese where the original line is “Hey pal!” or something along those lines. (Chinese people don’t use these expressions like we do in English)

老铁 (lǎo tiě) – buddy, bro (very informal slang – outdated)

While a dated phrase, you may run across  老铁 (lǎotiě) in older Chinese memes or comedies.

The slang, which originally came from a northeastern Chinese dialect, literally means “old iron”. It was kind of popular around 2016 and was a jokey way to address a 铁哥们儿 (tiě gē menr) – “ironclad friend”. These days, it probably shouldn’t be used at all unless you want to make people laugh .

Specific Kinds  of Friends in Chinese

Some words for ”friend” in Chinese can only be used in certain situations or professional relationships. Here are some situation-specific ways to say friend.

同伴 (tóngbàn) – companion (through a shared activity)

同伴 (tóngbàn) refers to the relationship between people who do an activity together whether it’s a job task, an event, a trip, etc, but it doesn’t reveal any details about the closeness of the friendship. 

For example, your 同伴 (tóngbàn) could be a person you take to a party, a road buddy to share a car with for saving money or other pilgrims you fell in with while walking the Camino de Santiago… Are you friends? We’ll never know!

• 如果你想省交通费, 可以在网上找 同伴 一起旅行。 Rúguǒ nǐ xiǎng shěng jiāotōng fèi, kěyǐ zài wǎng shàng zhǎo  tóngbàn  yìqǐ lǚxíng.   If you want to cut down on transportation costs, look for companions to travel with on the internet.

伴侣 (bànlǚ) – (life) partner

When you are in a serious, long-term relationship with someone, you can refer to him or her as 伴侣 (bànlǚ) – partner. It can be used between boyfriends and girlfriends as well as husbands and wives.

• 王先生，您的 伴侣 正在找您。 Wáng xiānsheng, nín de  bànlǚ  zhèng zài zhǎo nín. Mr. Wang, your wife/partner is looking for you.

Note that 伴侣 (bànlǚ) is only used for romantic partners in Chinese. A business partner, on the other hand, is called 合伙人 (héhuǒ rén) .

亲友 (qīnyǒu) – relatives and friends

In Chinese, the word 亲友 (qīnyǒu) , which is essentially the short form of 亲戚朋友 (qīnqi péngyou) is reserved for relatives and close friends. These are the people you would typically invite to your wedding.

• 我的 亲友 都很支持我的决定。 Wǒ de  qīnyǒu  dōu hěn zhīchí wǒ de juédìng. All of my relatives and friends are very supportive of my decision.

室友 (shìyǒu) – roommate

室友 (shìyǒu) means roommate in Chinese. Though the second character in the word – 友 (yǒu) stands for “friend”, a 室友 (shìyǒu) doesn’t necessarily have to be your friend. 友 (yǒu) only implies a similarity between you and that person here.

For instance,

• 我的 室友 真的很烦人。 Wǒ de  shìyǒu  zhēn de hěn fánrén. My roommate is really annoying.

队友 (duìyǒu) – teammate

You’ll notice that many noun + 友 (yǒu) combinations in Chinese are used to describe people who share the same group or circumstances that you do.

队友 (duìyǒu) is a prime example. It refers to someone who is on the same team as you are, be it basketball, football , chess or whatever team you’re playing for.

• 我在等我的 队友 。 Wǒ zài děng wǒ de  duìyǒu . I am waiting for my teammate.

校友 (xiàoyǒu) – fellow alum

The same applies to 校友 (xiàoyǒu) . Literally “school friend”, the word is used to describe someone who went to the same school as you, even during a different year.

• 你知道马云吗？他是我的 校友 。 Nǐ zhīdào Mǎ Yún ma? Tā shì wǒ de  xiàoyǒu . Do you know of Jack Ma ? He is my fellow alum.

同学 (tóngxué) classmate, schoolmate

If you’re still going to school, then you can call a classmate or schoolmate 同学 (tóngxué) . The character 同 (tóng) means “same” or “together”, and 学 (xué) means “study”. Unlike 校友 (xiàoyǒu), 同学 (tóngxué) is most often used to refer to a friend who is in the same grade as you.

• 我的朋友大多是我的 同学 。 Wǒ de péngyou dàduō shì wǒ de  tóngxué . Most of my friends are my schoolmates.

If you have taken some Chinese classes, you may have noticed that your teachers address students as 同学们 (tóngxuémen) with the plural number marker 们 (men).

• 同学们 ，我们现在开始上课。 Tóngxuémen , wǒmen xiànzài kāishǐ shàngkè. Class, we are starting class now.

同事 (tóngshì) – colleague, associate

If you are friends with a work colleague or associate, 同事 (tóngshì)  would be a suitable word to use for expressing this type of friendship. The character 事 (shì) means “job” in Chinese and is used in many other terms. Note you wouldn’t be able to use the word for a friend in a different workplace or organization than yourself.

• 昨天我和 同事 在酒吧喝了不少酒。 Zuótiān wǒ hé  tóngshì  zài jiǔbā hē le bùshǎo jiǔ. I drank quite a lot with my colleagues at the bar yesterday.

网友 (wǎngyǒu) – online friend

If you ask me, “are online friends real?”, I would say yes. It doesn’t matter if they live across the globe and you may never meet them in person, it’s the emotional connection that counts.

When expressing this type of friendship, you can use the word 网友 (wǎngyǒu) , literally “internet friend”. To make online friends from China, you can try popular Chinese social media platforms like WeChat , QQ , Weibo , Douban , Zhihu , etc.

• 你有没有见过 网友 ？ Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu jiànguò wǎngyǒu ? Have you met up with any online friends?

笔友 (bǐ yǒu) – pen pal

The internet has changed how many people communicate with their virtual friends. But there’s no dearth of people who still love to write and exchange handwritten letters. 

If you still have pen pals, you can call them your 笔友 (bǐ yǒu) .

• 我给 笔友 写信二十多年了。 Wǒ gěi  bǐyǒu  xiě xìn èrshí duō nián le. I’ve been writing to pen pals for over 20 years.

酒友 (jiǔ yǒu) – drinking buddy

When referring to a partner in a common activity, you might choose to use the name of the activity (usually the short form) with 友 (yǒu) when describing the relationship. For instance, a friend with whom you often go to bars can be 酒友 (jiǔ yǒu) – drinking buddy (literally “alcohol buddy”).

The friendship is usually linked to a similar interest in something – well, not necessarily friendship – 友 (yǒu) is more similar to “buddy” or “fellow” in this case.

Here are a few more examples:

• 球友 (qiú yǒu) – ball sports buddy (football, basketball, tennis, etc)
• 牌友 (pái yǒu) – card games buddy (poker, rummy, uno, etc)
• 棋友 (qí yǒu) – board games buddy (chess, go, xiangqi, etc)
• 驴友 (lǘ yǒu) – travel buddy

Note that travel buddy in Chinese is written as 驴友 (lǘ yǒu) – literally “donkey friend” instead of 旅友 (lǚ yǒu) on purpose for its amusing effect (travelers who enjoy adventures, backpacking, hiking, etc are proud to be compared to donkeys since these animals are capable of carrying heavy loads on their backs)

病友 (bìngyǒu) – ward mate  

A friend made in a hospital can be called 病友 (bìngyǒu) in Chinese, literally “illness friend”. Hopefully, you don’t have to use that term often.

• 我住院的时候， 病友 给了我很多帮助。 Wǒ zhù yuàn de shíhou, bìngyǒu  gěi le wǒ hěnduō bāngzhù. When I was hospitalized, my ward mates helped me a lot.

战友 (zhànyǒu) – fellow soldier, companion in arms

Peace is one of humanity’s most precious needs. Unfortunately, sometimes we have to fight for it. when referring to your battle brothers, you’d say  战友 (zhànyǒu) .

• 他和 战友 一起参加了俄乌战争。 Tā hé  zhànyǒu  yìqǐ cānjiā le É Wū zhànzhēng. He and his comrades fought in the Russo-Ukrainian War.

盟友 (méngyǒu) – ally

Finally, “ally” in Chinese. If you want to talk about a country’s friends in a political context, you can say 盟友 (méngyǒu) , literally “alliance friend”.

• 英国和澳大利亚是美国的 盟友 。 Yīngguó hé ÀodàlìYà shì Měiguó de  méngyǒu . The UK and Australia are America’s allies.

Related Reading: 197 Country Names in Chinese (plus Abbreviations)

FAQs about Friend in Chinese

1. how do i say bff in chinese.

There are various ways to say BFF, or “best friends forever” in Chinese, depending on the gender of the speaker and his/her friend. If you’re in a pinch, the word 死党 (sǐdǎng) is the most frequently used one these days and is okay to use for either gender.   

2. How do I say FWB in Chinese?

The word for FWB, or “friends with benefits” in Chinese is 炮友 (pào yǒu) – literally “cannon friend”. You can also say 性伴侣 (xìng bànlǚ) – “sex partner” in a more formal way.

3. How do I say “soulmate” in Chinese?

The literal translation of “soulmate” in Chinese is 灵魂伴侣 (línghún bànlǚ). But the word is actually not common at all in China. A better way of referring to someone who truly gets you (totally platonic ) is 知音 (zhīyīn).

4. How do I say “friendship” in Chinese?

The Chinese word for friendship is 友谊 (yǒuyì). You’ll be able to appreciate this term more once you’ve met Chinese friends  of your own.

5. How do I introduce a friend in Chinese?

To introduce your friend in Chinese, simply start the sentence with 这是我的朋友 (Zhè shì wǒ de péngyou) – meaning “This is my friend” and finish it with the name of the person you want to introduce. ( Read more on how to introduce someone in Chinese )

Friend in Chinese: What You ’ ve Learned

There are many different options in Mandarin Chinese for interacting with and referring to your friends. We hope this article not only taught you how to say friend in Chinese, but also the basics of Chinese culture.

Here’s a recap of all the friend-related vocabulary we’ve covered in this article along with English translations.  

朋友 (péngyou) is the most common word for saying “friend” in Chinese and when you are unsure about the formality of the situation, it is your go-to expression.

But don’t exclude other words from your Chinese vocabulary. Go ahead and explore the broad spectrum of ways to express friendship in Chinese!  

Want to Learn More Chinese?

Still translating in your head? Wanna speak Chinese for real? You need a structured course with a real teacher! We’ve taken the time to try out dozens of Chinese courses on the internet. Some are fantastic while others are junk.  Find the best online Chinese course in 2024  and skyrocket your learning success!

Grammar , Vocabulary

Useful Chinese Essay Phrases  

  July 8, 2020

By   Ellen

Nowadays, many international students have decided to study abroad, and China has become a highly popular destination. In universities, essay writing is a basic skill and the “Academic Writing” lectures are always attracting many students to attend.

Here we have summarized some “all-purpose” phrases and sentences which hopefully you would find useful.

Chinese Essay Phrases Used in Abstracts

The abstract should explain the purpose, method, results, and conclusion of your research, also highlighting the new ideas that you proposed; and do remember to keep your language concise while writing. The purpose of the abstract is to conclude and summarize the main contents of your essay so that the reader could have a brief understanding without having to read the entire paper. Chinese abstracts are usually around 200 characters.

Research Background, Significance, and Current Situation

Extremely useful/badly needed/affecting people’s lives (1-2 sentences)

Proposing the Object of Study 

Played a very important role (1-2 sentences)

Purpose of the Study or Study Aim

The role of A in B, perhaps remains to be seen (1 sentence)

Research Methods and Results

Through what means/technique/experiment we achieved what result (several sentences)

Research Results

The phenomenon of A in B, shows what the function of B is, theoretical and applied value (1-2 sentences)

via Pixabay

Chinese Essay Phrases: Main Body

The main body includes the introduction and the main text. The introduction section could use similar phrases that we have just listed, focusing on research objects and purposes. The main text should include research methods, research results, and discussion. Writers should keep their sentences to the point and avoid rambling, also avoid using too much subjective perspective discourses, which shouldn’t be used as arguments as well.

Theoretical Basis, Approaches, and Methods

To Express Opinions

To Emphasis

Transitional Expressions

Chinese Essay Phrases: Conclusion

At the ending section of the paper, the writer should provide an objective summary, list out the future research objectives and directions, and perhaps look into the future. Keep optimistic even if your experiment results were negative.

Research Impact and Value

There you go. We hope this article helps you write amazing essays. Best of luck!

Ellen is a language specialist from China. She grew up in the US and received a master’s degree from the St Andrews University of UK. The multicultural experiences attributes to her understanding of the differences and similarities between the English and Chinese language. She currently works as an editor specialized in Language learning books.

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How to Say Friend in Chinese: Top 12 Terms 

Have you ever been unsure about how to say “friend” in Chinese? Imagine chatting online with a new friend or trying to explain your best friend to someone in Chinese. It can be confusing, right? But don’t worry! In this article, we’re going to make things simple. We’ll explore 12 different words for “friend” in Chinese, each perfect for different types of relationships. Whether you’re learning Chinese, interested in Chinese culture, or just curious, this article will help you understand friendship expressions easily. Let’s get started on our journey together!

Part1. Understanding Friend in Chinese

In delving into the intricacies of expressing friendship in Chinese, it’s essential to grasp the multifaceted nature of the term “朋友” (péng yǒu). Let’s unravel its layers to gain a deeper understanding.

Meaning of “Friend”

Friendship, as conveyed by “朋友” (péng yǒu), extends far beyond the surface level of mere acquaintanceship. It encompasses a profound sense of camaraderie, mutual support, and shared experiences. In Chinese culture, the term embodies the notion of companionship and trust, serving as a cornerstone of social relationships.

Linguistic Nuances

Breaking down the characters of “朋友,” we find “朋” (péng) and “友” (yǒu), each contributing distinct nuances to the concept of friendship. “朋” (péng) denotes a group or community, emphasizing the collective aspect of friendship. It suggests a sense of belonging and interconnectedness within a social circle. Meanwhile, “友” (yǒu) conveys the idea of affinity, closeness, and trust. It highlights the personal and relational dimension of friendship, emphasizing the bond between individuals.

Example Sentence

To illustrate, consider the sentence “他是我的朋友” (tā shì wǒ de péng yǒu), which translates to “He is my friend” in English. Here, “他” (tā) means “he,” “是” (shì) means “is,” and “我的” (wǒ de) means “my.” The term “朋友” (péng yǒu) encapsulates the essence of friendship, signifying a meaningful connection between individuals based on trust and mutual understanding.

Cultural Significance

Friendship holds significant cultural importance in Chinese society, reflecting values deeply rooted in Confucian principles. Confucianism emphasizes the virtues of benevolence (仁), righteousness (义), and loyalty (忠), all of which are integral to the concept of friendship. Within this cultural framework, friendships are regarded as essential for personal well-being and social harmony. Building and nurturing strong interpersonal bonds is highly valued, as it fosters mutual support, cooperation, and emotional fulfillment.

12 Terms to Say “Friend in Chinese” for Every Type of Relationship

Curious about how to express “friend” in Chinese for different types of relationships? Let’s explore 12 diverse terms, each perfect for various contexts.

1. 好朋友 (hǎo péng you) – Good friend

好朋友 refers to a close and trusted friend, someone you enjoy spending time with and can rely on. This term emphasizes the warmth and affection in the relationship, highlighting the mutual understanding and support between friends. Good friends often share hobbies, secrets, and laughter, making memories that last a lifetime.

2. 老朋友 (lǎo péng you) – Old friend

老朋友 denotes a long-standing friendship, someone you have known for a significant period and with whom you share many memories. This term evokes feelings of nostalgia and loyalty, emphasizing the enduring bond forged over time. Old friends are like anchors in our lives, providing comfort and stability through life’s ups and downs.

3. 闺蜜 (guī mì) – Best friend between females

闺蜜 specifically refers to a female best friend, someone with whom you share a deep and special bond. This term conveys the intimacy and closeness of the friendship, often likened to sisters who share everything. Best friends share dreams, fears, and countless inside jokes, forming an unbreakable bond of sisterhood.

4. 老友 (lǎo yǒu) – Old friend/buddy

Similar to 老朋友, 老友 emphasizes the longevity of the friendship and the comfort of familiarity. This term is often used affectionately to describe a friend with whom you have shared many experiences and adventures. Old friends reminisce about the past, celebrate achievements, and provide unwavering support through thick and thin.

5. 同志 (tóng zhì) – Comrade

Originally used in political contexts, 同志 now often refers to close friends or companions who share common goals or ideals. This term emphasizes solidarity and mutual support, reflecting the camaraderie among like-minded individuals. Comrades work together towards shared objectives, inspiring and empowering each other along the way.

6. 好友 (hǎo yǒu) – Good friend

好友 is another term for a good friend, emphasizing the positive and enjoyable nature of the relationship. This term suggests mutual respect and affection between friends who share common interests and values. Good friends uplift each other, offer advice, and create cherished memories that brighten even the darkest days.

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7. 知己 (zhī jǐ) – Intimate friend

A 知己 is someone who truly knows and understands you, often described as a soulmate or confidant. This term conveys a deep level of trust and emotional connection, highlighting the rare and precious nature of such friendships. Intimate friends share dreams, fears, and vulnerabilities, providing unwavering support and understanding.

8. 志同道合的人 (zhì tóng dào hé de rén) – Like-minded individuals

While not explicitly referring to “friend,” this term describes individuals who share similar interests, values, and aspirations. This term emphasizes the importance of shared values and common goals in forming meaningful connections. Like-minded individuals inspire and motivate each other, embarking on shared journeys of growth and self-discovery.

9. 亲友 (qīn yǒu) – Dear friend

This term encompasses both friends and relatives, emphasizing the closeness of the relationship. 亲友 conveys a sense of familial warmth and affection, blurring the boundaries between family and friendship. Dear friends offer unconditional love, support, and companionship, becoming an integral part of our extended family.

10. 同伴 (tóng bàn) – Companion

同伴 highlights the companionship and camaraderie between individuals engaged in a shared activity or journey. This term suggests a sense of partnership and mutual reliance, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and cooperation. Companions share experiences, face challenges, and celebrate victories together, forming lasting bonds of friendship.

11. 亲近的人 (qīn jìn de rén) – Close Person

This term refers to someone with whom you have a close and affectionate relationship, regardless of whether they are officially recognized as a friend. 亲近的人 conveys a sense of emotional intimacy and trust, highlighting the depth of the connection between individuals. Close persons share secrets, dreams, and fears, offering a safe haven in a chaotic world.

12. 伙伴 (huǒ bàn) – Partner

伙伴 can refer to friends, companions, or partners in various contexts, emphasizing collaboration and teamwork. This term suggests a sense of mutual support and cooperation, highlighting the importance of working together towards common goals. Partners share responsibilities, brainstorm ideas, and celebrate achievements together, fostering a sense of unity and belonging.

FAQs about Friend in Chinese

Q1. can you use “友谊” (yǒuyì) instead of “朋友” to refer to friends in chinese.

Yes, “友谊” emphasizes the concept of friendship or camaraderie, while “朋友” directly means friend.

Q2. How do you address a friend casually in Chinese?

You can use “你好，朋友” (nǐ hǎo, péngyǒu) which means “Hello, friend” or simply “朋友” (péngyǒu).

Q3. What are common expressions to show appreciation for a friend in Chinese?

Expressions like “谢谢你，朋友” (xièxiè nǐ, péngyǒu) meaning “Thank you, friend” or “我很感激你的友谊” (wǒ hěn gǎnjī nǐ de yǒuyì) meaning “I appreciate your friendship” are common.

In this article, we’ve explored 12 different ways to say “friend in Chinese,” each suited to various types of relationships. From terms like “好朋友” (hǎo péng you) to “同事” (tóng shì), we’ve uncovered the nuances of friendship expressions in Chinese culture. Understanding these terms not only helps us communicate effectively but also deepens our understanding of the value placed on relationships in Chinese society. 

Master’s degree in Education from the University of Plymouth, UK. He has 8 years of Chinese literacy, Chinese classic words, Chinese pinyin and other Chinese enlightenment and international Chinese online teaching experience. He is proficient in Chinese and English and has served as a teacher in the K12 education system overseas for many years.

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How to Introduce Your Family in Chinese

Almost everyone holds a special place in their heart for families . A family is those you’re bound with from birth, the ones who will always be there for you unconditionally. When we first meet someone, we like to be familiar with their family background . Knowing this provides valuable information on that person’s upbringing, which could shape their personality dramatically. Thus, it’s important to learn how to talk about your family in Chinese.

In China, family has great importance. 孝顺 ( xiào shùn ), which means being responsible and obedient to parents, is one of the best qualities a person can have. While reading this article, keep in mind that the Chinese view of parent-child relationships differs in some ways from that of Western countries.

Now let’s get right into today’s adventure!

Table of Contents

• Family Perceptions in China
• Family Member Terms and Other Basics
• Terms for Relatives
• Family Member Terms as a Married Person
• Endearment Terms
• Bonus – Interesting Expressions about Family Members
• Conclusion: How ChineseClass101 Can Help You Master Family Terms

1. Family Perceptions in China

The family institution in China is incredibly strong. China highly values family bonds , particularly parent-child relationships . When it comes to family in the Chinese culture, there are even traditions that say children should never travel far, and should always stay with their parents.

Even now, many men still live with their parents even after their marriage. In this case, the woman will have to move to the man’s house and live with his parents. This sometimes creates an unpleasant relationship between the wife and her mother-in-law , which is a situation you can see used as a stereotype in a wide variety of Chinese shows.

There are many different ways to name family members depending on your relationship to them. Age difference is the main factor in determining what to call a family member, since Chinese people heavily emphasize that youngsters should respect their elders.

One thing to keep in mind: Unlike in Western culture, it’s not respectful to directly call elders by their names. This matter will be introduced more thoroughly later in this article.

2. Family Member Terms and Other Basics

Here are some Chinese words for family members to expand your family in Chinese vocabulary! With just these basic words and phrases, you have a great place to start a simple conversation about family.

In Chinese: 我的家庭很幸福。 Pinyin: Wǒ de jiā tíng hěn xìng fú. In English: I have a happy family.

In Chinese: 我是在单亲家庭中长大的。 Pinyin: Wǒ shì zài dān qīn jiā tíng zhōng zhǎng dà de. In English: I grew up in a single-parent family.

• In Chinese: 母亲 Pinyin: mǔ qīn In English: mother
• In Chinese: 父亲 Pinyin: fù qīn In English: father
• In Chinese: 妈妈 Pinyin: mā ma In English: mom
• In Chinese: 爸爸 Pinyin: bà ba In English: dad

In Chinese: 我有个[姐姐]. Pinyin: Wǒ yǒu gè [jiě jie]. In English: I have a(n) [older sister].

• In Chinese: 哥哥/弟弟 Pinyin: gē ge /dì di In English: (older) brother / (younger) brother
• In Chinese: 兄弟姐妹 Pinyin: xiōng dì jiě mèi In English: sibling

Fun fact: The interesting thing about siblings in Chinese is that older and younger siblings have different terms, whereas English does not.

• In Chinese: 姥爷 / 爷爷 / 祖父 Pinyin: lǎo yé / yé ye / zǔ fù In English: (mother’s side) grandfather / (father’s side) grandfather / grandfather
• In Chinese: 姥姥 / 奶奶 / 祖母 Pinyin: lǎo lao / nǎi nai / zǔ mǔ In English: (mother’s side) grandmother / (father’s side) grandmother / grandmother
• In Chinese: 父母 / 家长 Pinyin: fù mǔ / jiā zhǎng In English: parents

Fun fact: The literal meaning of 家长 is the family’s leader .

• In Chinese: 祖父母 Pinyin: zǔ fù mǔ In English: grandparents
• In Chinese: 曾祖母 Pinyin: zēng zǔ mǔ In English: great grandmother
• In Chinese: 曾祖父 Pinyin: zēng zǔ fù In English: great grandfather

3. Terms for Relatives

Now, let’s work our way around the Chinese family tree, so that you’ll never struggle to find the right word for a family member!

• In Chinese: 亲戚/亲属 Pinyin: qīn qi / qīn shǔ In English: relative

Fun fact: There’s a fun Chinese term called 走亲戚 ( zǒu qīn qi ), which literally means “walk through relatives.” This is a tradition that Chinese people normally have during Chinese New Year , which is also known as the Spring Festival . It’s a holiday where families spend time together and catch up, just like Christmas in Western cultures. If some families can’t make the reunion, you’ll need to 走亲戚, to visit them at their place and spend some quality time. This shows that the Chinese extended family is just as important as the Chinese immediate family.

• In Chinese: 叔叔 Pinyin: shū shu In English: uncle
• In Chinese: 阿姨 Pinyin: ā yí In English: aunt

Fun fact: In English, youngsters can usually call their elders who have no relations Mr. or Ms. and such, and sometimes if an elder is close enough, they can even directly call them by their names. This is quite different in China.

The young generation have to call adults who are older a certain term depending on the age difference . Usually, you can call people who are ten to twenty years older “aunt” (阿姨) or “uncle” (叔叔). For people who are at a similar age as your grandparents, you’re required to call them “grandmother” (奶奶) or “grandfather” (爷爷).

• In Chinese: 堂兄弟姐妹/表兄弟姐妹 Pinyin: táng xiōng dì jiě mèi /biǎo xiōng dì jiě mèi In English: cousin

Fun fact: Since “cousin” in Chinese is a relatively long word, Chinese people usually don’t use the word “cousin.” Instead, they’ll use the terms that can show the direct relation. There are eight different terms under the category “cousin,” including: 堂兄 ( táng xiōng ) [male, father’s side, older], 堂弟 ( táng dì ) [male, father’s side, younger], 堂姐 ( táng jiě ) [female, father’s side, older], 堂妹 ( táng mèi ) [female, father’s side, younger], 表兄 ( biǎo xiōng ) [male, mother’s side, older], 表弟 ( biǎo dì ) [male, mother’s side, younger], 表姐 ( biǎo jiě ) [female, mother’s side, older], 表妹 ( biǎo mèi ) [female, mother’s side, younger].

• In Chinese: 外甥女 / 侄女 Pinyin: wài shēng nǚ / zhí nǚ In English: niece
• In Chinese: 侄子 / 外甥 Pinyin: zhí zi / wài shēng In English: nephew

4. Family Member Terms as a Married Person

Once you’ve married in Chinese culture, you’ve gained several new Chinese family members. Here’s what to call them all!

• In Chinese: 妻子 Pinyin: qī zǐ In English: wife
• In Chinese: 丈夫 / 先生 Pinyin: zhàng fū / xiān shēng In English: husband

• In Chinese: 女儿 Pinyin: nǚ ér In English: daughter
• In Chinese: 儿子 Pinyin: ér zi In English: son
• In Chinese: 姐夫 / 妹夫 Pinyin: jiě fū / mèi fū In English: brother-in-law
• In Chinese: 嫂子 / 弟妹 Pinyin: sǎo zi / dì mèi In English: (older brother’s side) sister-in-law / (younger brother’s side) sister-in-law
• In Chinese: 婆婆 / 岳母 Pinyin: pó po / yuè mǔ In English: mother-in-law (husband’s mother) / mother-in-law (wife’s mother)
• In Chinese: 公公 / 岳父 Pinyin: gōng gong / yuè fù In English: father-in-law (husband’s father) / father-in-law (wife’s father)

Fun fact: In Chinese culture, if you’re on good terms with your father-in-law and mother-in-law, and you feel comfortable, it will be good to call them “mom” or “dad,” just like your wife/husband does. This shows that you see them as your own mother or father. However, in many cases, it can be difficult to get along with your father-in-law or mother-in-law.

5. Endearment Terms

• In Chinese: 爹地 / 爸爸 / 老爸 Pinyin: diē dì / bà ba / lǎo bà In English: daddy
• In Chinese: 妈咪 / 妈妈 / 老妈 Pinyin: mā mī / mā ma / lǎo mā In English: mommy
• In Chinese: 老哥 / 老弟 Pinyin: lǎo gē / lǎo dì In English: (older) brother / (younger) brother
• In Chinese: 老姐 / 老妹 Pinyin: lǎo jiě / lǎo mèi In English: (older) sister / (younger) sister
• In Chinese: 老婆 / 媳妇 Pinyin: lǎo pó / xí fù In English: wife
• In Chinese: 老公 Pinyin: lǎo gōng In English: husband

Fun fact: 老 means “old” in Chinese, which is a very common thing to call someone who is close to you in Chinese. If you notice, lots of the nicknames mentioned above begin with a 老. In this case, 婆 and 公 each means “old women” and “old men.” By calling your other half this, it shows your commitment that you want to grow old with each other .

• In Chinese: 亲爱的 Pinyin: qīn ài de In English: dear
• In Chinese: 宝贝 Pinyin: bǎo bèi In English: baby
• In Chinese: 闺女 Pinyin: guī nǚ In English: daughter

6. Bonus – Interesting Expressions about Family Members

• In Chinese: 虎毒不食子。 Pinyin: Hǔ dú bú shí zǐ. In English: Even a vicious tiger won’t eat its own son. Actual meaning: Parents will always treat their own children kindly, no matter how evil their nature is.
• In Chinese: 有其父必有其子。 Pinyin: Yǒu qí fù bì yǒu qí zǐ. In English: Like father, like son. Actual meaning: A son’s character is very likely to resemble his father’s.
• In Chinese: 不听老人言，吃亏在眼前。 Pinyin: Bù tīng lǎo rén yán, chī kuī zài yǎn qián. In English: If you don’t listen to elders’ advice, you will learn your lesson.

7. Conclusion: How ChineseClass101 Can Help You Master Family Terms

I hope you’re now more fascinated with the unique Chinese culture after reading this article about Chinese family. Continue to binge on learning the most native and entertaining Chinese lessons at ChineseClass101.com ; here, Chinese is no longer an excruciating language that’s hard to master. It’s a paradise where you can enjoy yourself even while studying!

Before you go, let us know in the comments how confident you feel naming your family members in Chinese now! And tell us common sayings or idioms about family in your own language while you’re at it! 😉 We look forward to hearing from you!

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My Best Friend Essay in English (100, 200, 300, 500 Words)

A best friend is a special and unforgettable person in our lives and will stay longer than other common friends. We share most of the things, conversations, and important talks and support them anytime in our lives.

In this topic, we are discussing the best friend and the memories that we all spent with our friends and best friends. 

We have covered an essay pattern in various paragraphs of around 100 words, 200 words, 300 words, and 500 words, respectively, that helps many of the children or students of class 2 to 12th to understand the short and descriptive essay pattern of the best friend.

Table of Contents

My Best Friend Essay 100 Words

I always thank God that he sent Rahul into my life as my best friend, and I also wish that everyone has a friend like Rahul. Rahul and I met on the first day of school after the summer vacation when we were studying in the 5th standard.

I also remember an incident when our class teacher asked him about his previous school and the place from where he came. He is a good speaker, and he gave an interesting answer to everyone in his introduction in class. 

He is good at studies and also a good athlete. He loves running and singing too, and his handwriting is also very neat and clean. I feel happy to become his friend, and he also loves my company, and we spend most of our time together.

My Best Friend Essay 200 Words

I have had a lot of friends since childhood, but Raghav is one of the kindest and most trustworthy friends for me. I must say that Rohan has been my best friend since childhood. He is a very good person and a true friend because he has a good manner that he never lies to anyone, and hates people who lie to him. He is a kind boy and also a sincere student. We both live in the same building, and our apartments are also in front of each other. 

My parents also met my friend in the school at the parents-teachers meeting, and they also like Raghav and his sincerity. We both have been in the same class from the 3rd standard until now. We are in the 10th standard now, and we both help each other in the preparation for Board exams, which will be held in the month of March. 

He always invites me to his house to play video games with him. Every Sunday, we both enjoy playing video games with popcorn and juice together. Sometimes, our school teachers also wonder about our true friendship and the strong bond between us. He has a set of badminton rackets and a shuttle, and we also play together in the evening near our building. We both love each other’s company.

My Best Friend Essay 300 Words

Everyone has at least a single friend who is more than just a friend to them. Getting a friend is common, but getting a true friend is very rare and a bit special. It is like a big achievement for people to get a trustworthy and lifelong best friend. I also had a best friend in my life too since childhood. His name is Ganaraj, and his mother is Telugu. We are neighbors too and also classmates. We always sit together in school and also spend most of the time together. 

He is a very talented person and always supports me in my studies. We both like mathematics, and also we love to solve maths numerical problems. I like to play games, and we both always play games together and participate in the sports that are held in school. Our favorite sport is Cricket, and we both are good all-rounders on our school cricket team. Our class teacher always suggests and supports us to play cricket even better and also helps in education to achieve success in life.

He is very valuable to me, and I always value his friendship as I value my parents. He is like my family, as a brother from another mother. Whenever I need his help and support, my best friend is there for me to hold me. We both live in the precious moment and create memories that will stay with me forever. Our friendship is a kind of beautiful relationship, and I hope any kind will never break these mistakes. Every Sunday, we go together to a playground near our locality, and we spend most of our time there. My parents also like Ganaraj to be my friend. Everyone is happy with our friendship and has a strong bond that never goes down in any situation.

My Best Friend Essay 500 Words

My best friend’s name is Siddhart Jadhav. We have been friends since class 7th A in Alfred Nobel High School. We both studied in the same school in childhood but not in the same class as our sections are different. Later that time, all the students from all the sections are sorted according to the previous academics’ percentages and grades and separated into four different sections. Due to this separation, I met Siddhart in the 7th A, and we became friends at that time. Later, time goes by, and our friendship bond becomes stronger, and we become best friends with each other and spend most of our time together in school, tuition, and extra classes. We also sit on the same bench in the classroom. 

Our likes and dislikes are also common, and we also love to dance and sing. In every annual gathering and other function that is held in our school, we both participate and give our best performances. We never wanted to win the competitions, our intention was to enjoy the gathering. Some of our school teachers don’t like our togetherness and friendship, but some of them loved and always blessed our strong bonded friendship to stay longer and longer. Siddharth and I always talked in the running classroom, and most of the time, our teacher also punished both of us by standing outside the classroom. We always tried to irritate the lecturer in the chemistry lectures by asking tons of doubts and questions. We eat tiffin boxes sitting on the last benches.

Apart from this naughtiness, Siddharth is very punctual, and he is never late for coming to school and attending classes. He always completes his homework at a given time and being with him, I also start studying very well and completing my homework on time. He keeps his books and copies very clean. His writing is very nice and encourages me to write cleanly and clearly for better understanding. My parents also compliment my friend that being with him, I also become responsible and a good student.

Siddharth and I are both excellent football players and athletes. When we both start playing the football game, the opponent team never wins. Our sports teacher always motivates us and tells us that we will become good football players one day. My parents also know Siddharth very much, and they like his pleasant behavior. Feel free when Siddharth and I stay together, whether for playing games, video games, study, or for going out to have fun with other classmates. Siddharth is my best friend, my first friend. He is the one who offers me help in my studies when I need it, supports me and always shows love to me, defends me, and stands by my side in any situation no matter what. 

In academics, my best friend, Siddharth, is chosen to be awarded the best student of the year in the 10th class. He is one of the brilliant students of our school and also won many of the competitions that were held in school. He is like a well-wisher, and I always enjoyed his company. He, too, feels secure and relieved by spending time with me as well. He is like a problem-solving friend to me. I never wanted to lose him in my life.

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How to say“Best Friends” in Chinese

Best friends is 最好的朋友 （zuì hǎo de péngyǒu）or 好朋友 （hǎo péngyǒu）in Mandarin Chinese. However there are lots of ways to say “best friends” in Chinese depending on local speaking custom. Let us take a few examples:

好朋友（hǎo péngyǒu）：best friend 死党：sworn followers, diehard followers 发小：a childhood friend, innocent playmates 闺蜜：a woman’s best female friend, a woman’s best girlfriend 哥们: a man’s best male friend.

sǐdǎng 1. 死党

“死党 (sǐdǎng) ” is something like death party, however it means a very good and close friend in Chinese, “死党 （sǐdǎng) ” is willing to accompany you to enjoy happy,and also willing to accompany you through the pain，they are happy to do anything to help you and share almost everything. If you do something wrong, they may not comfor you, instead they will scold you, as he (she) knows you better than anyone. “死党 (sǐdǎng)” can be between a male or a female.

For example：

Wáng hóng shì wǒ de sǐdǎng. 王红 是 我的 死党。 Wang Hong is my best friend.

fàxiǎo 2. 发小

“发小 (fàxiǎo) ” is a childhood friend, meaning you known someone when you were a child and grown up together , and kept in close touch with each other after growing up. Now many working people bear a lot of pressure from work and complicated relationship and like to spend time with 发小 (fàxiǎo) outside the working hours, they can be true to themselves to stay with 发小 (fàxiǎo).

Lǐtāo shì wǒ de fàxiǎo, xiǎoshíhòu wǒmen yīqǐ shàngxué, yīqǐ wánshuǎ. 李涛是我的发小，小时候我们一起上学，一起玩耍。 Li Tao is my childhood friend. We went to school and played together in childhood.

guī mì 3. 闺蜜

“闺密 （guī mì）” is a woman’s best/close girlfriend. In an ancient history of China, “闺 (guī)”was the living room where ummarried girl lived. “蜜” literal meaning “honey”. The combination is a woman’s close girlfriend. “闺蜜”usually share their private topics and secrets each other, talk about their feelings and opinions in aspects like love, marriage, working life, man etc.

我的闺蜜在我过生日送我一个口红。 My best friend gave me a lipstick on my birthday.

gē men 4. 哥们

哥们 （gē men）is a man’s best male friend. “哥 (gē) ”means brothers, it means man regard them as a brother. Young man like to use the word “哥们(gēmenr)”in daily life.

For example:

Gēmen, yīkuài qù chī kǎoyā ba. 哥们，一块去吃烤鸭吧。 Hi brother, let’s go to have a roast duck together.

Related phrases for best friend in writing Chinese:

知己[zhī jǐ] 伙伴[huǒ bàn] 密友[mì yǒu] 挚友[zhì yǒu] 老伙计[lǎo huǒjì] 兄弟[xiōngdì]

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The Ultimate Vocabulary Guide to Family Introductions in Chinese

Whether you’re the new love interest or just a classmate, there’s a lot of pressure to make a good first impression on others’ parents. Carrying out a conversation may be a stretch for beginners, but learning the basics of family introductions can make all the difference.

Read on for how to navigate family introductions in Chinese.

Phrases You’ll Need for a Family Introduction in Chinese

这是我(的)___。 (zhè shì wǒ [de] ___.) — this is my ___., 他/她是我(的)___。 (tā shì wǒ [de] ___.) — he/she is my ___., 我叫___。 (wǒ jiào ___.) — my name is ___., 我是他/她(的)___。 (wǒ shì tā/tā [de] ___.) — i am his/her ___., 我们在___认识。 (wǒ men zài ___ rèn shí.) — we met at ___., introducing your family to a friend, family vocabulary, an example family introduction to a chinese friend, introducing yourself to a friend’s family, vocabulary to describe your relationship, an example introduction to a chinese friend’s family, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Before we get down to key terms and dialogue, let’s go over some of the formulas you’ll need for a family introduction in Chinese.

This is the sentence structure you’ll be using when introducing your family to a Chinese friend.

Notice that 的 is in parentheses. It can be taken out without losing the meaning of the sentence, so it’s up to you whether you’d like to include it or not.

这是我的母亲。 (zhè shì wǒ de mǔ qīn.) — This is my mother.

Instead of saying, “This is my _____,” you could also use this sentence structure.

他是我弟弟。 (tā shì wǒ dì dì.) — He is my younger brother.

This one is straightforward, used for meeting your friend’s family.

我叫艾米莉。 (wǒ jiào ài mǐ lì.) — My name is Emily.

This is a sentence structure you can use when a Chinese family member asks how you and your friend know each other or what relationship you two have.

我是她的室友。 (wǒ shì tā de shì yǒu.) — I am her roommate.

Here’s another example sentence you’d use with your friend’s family when asked where or how you met.

我们在一家咖啡店认识。 (wǒ men zài yī jiā kā fēi diàn rèn shí.) — We met at a coffee shop.

Seems basic enough, right? Okay, moving onto vocabulary and sample dialogues!

Have you recently made a new Chinese friend you want to introduce to your folks? Whether your friend knows very little English or is proficient, you still may need to do some translating.

By now, you may know the basic terms for immediate family members , and perhaps some others to describe specific relatives .

If you’d rather use more general terms, or terms to describe more members of your family, refer to this list:

家人 (jiā rén) — family

父母 (fù mǔ) — lit . father and mother; parents

兄弟姐妹 (xiōng dì jiě mèi) — lit. brothers and sisters; siblings

妻子 (qī zi) — wife

丈夫 (zhàng fū) — husband

孩子 (hái zi) — child/children

祖父母 (zǔ fù mǔ) — grandparents

亲戚 / 亲戚们   (qīn qī / qīn qī men) — relative/relatives

You can also use some Chinese terms of endearment when talking about your family with your Chinese friend. They’ll help your introduction be a little less formal.

Unless you’re bringing your friend to a family reunion, you probably won’t need to use most of these terms, anyway.

However, it doesn’t hurt to study the complex Chinese family tree. Even if you have no plans to introduce your Chinese friend to your entire family, they may want to introduce you to theirs!

Here’s a sample dialogue so you can see how this situation could potentially flow.

Speaker A is the foreigner introducing their friend, Speaker B, to their family. Speakers C and D are A’s mom and dad, respectively.

A: 王芳, 这是我的家人。   (wáng fāng, zhè shì wǒ de jiā rén.) — Wang Fang, this is my family.

B: 大家好！   (dà jiā hǎo!) — Hello, everyone!

A: 这是我爸爸Richard和我妈妈Joan。   (zhè shì wǒ bà ba Richard hé wǒ mā mā Joan.) — This is my father, Richard, and my mother, Joan.

C & D: Welcome, Wang Fang!

Pretty easy, don’t you think?

The other situation in which you’ll need Chinese for family introductions is when you, the foreigner, are meeting your Chinese friend’s family.

Surely, your friend would be the one introducing you to the family, but wouldn’t it be nice if you could hold your own instead of rely on your pal to do all the talking on your behalf?

It’s worth noting that you may not just be meeting the parents or the immediate family. The Chinese typically raise their kids to be interdependent , or part of an extended family, so you’ll probably be meeting the grandparents, as well.

Some traditional families, especially ones in rural China, have up to five generations living in one household . As if meeting the parents wasn’t nerve wracking enough!

Although it’s the safest way to describe your relationship to the parents, “friend” is a pretty broad term to use. If you want to be more specific, here’s a list of vocabulary that you might find useful:

朋友 (péng yǒu) — friend

闺蜜 (guī mì) — best female friend

兄弟 (xiōng dì) — best male friend

女朋友 (nǚ péng yǒu) — girlfriend

男朋友 (nán péng yǒu) — boyfriend

未婚妻 (wèi hūn qī) — fiancée

未婚夫 (wèi hūn fū) — fiancé

同学 (tóng xué) — classmate

同事 (tóng shì) — colleague/co-worker

老板 (lǎo bǎn) — boss

室友 (shì yǒu) — housemate/roommate

导师 (dǎo shī) — tutor

学生 (xué shēng) — student

In this situation, you’ll probably need to be able to speak more Chinese than if you introduced your Chinese friend to your family.

Here’s another sample dialogue, where Speaker A is a Chinese woman introducing her American boyfriend, Speaker B, to her family. Speaker C is the father, and Speaker D is the mother.

A: 爸爸妈妈, 这是我的男朋友迈克。迈克, 这是我父母。   (bà ba mā mā, zhè shì wǒ de nán péng yǒu mài kè. mài kè, zhè shì wǒ de fù mǔ.) — Father, mother, this is my boyfriend Mike. Mike, these are my parents.

C & D: 你好迈克！   (nǐ hǎo mài kè!) — Hello, Mike!

B: 你们好！很高兴认识你。   (nǐ men hǎo! hěn gāo xìng rèn shì nǐ.) — Hello! Nice to meet you.

C: 你们在那里认识？ (nǐ men zài nà lǐ rèn shí?) — Where did you two meet?

B: 我们在大学图书馆认识。她也是我的中文导师。   (wǒ men zài dà xué tú shū guǎn rèn shí. tā yě shì wǒ de zhōng wén dǎo shī.) — We met at the university library. She’s also my Chinese tutor.

D: 好棒啊！坐来吧。   (hǎo bàng a! zuò lái ba.) — Wonderful! Come, have a seat.

B: 谢谢！   (xiè xiè!) — Thank you!

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My Best Friend Essay in English | 100, 150, 200, 300, 500 Words

My Best Friend Essay in English: Best friend is one of the most beautiful gifts in life. In this article, you are going to learn how to write an essay on my best friend in English. We’ve provided 5 essays here (100, 150, 200, 300, and 500 words). All the essays will be helpful for students of classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. So, let’s begin.

Table of Contents

My Best Friend Essay: 100 Words

I have many friends in school. But Akash is my best friend. We read in the same class and same section. He is polite and well-mannered. He is an ideal student. He is very smart and intelligent. He always obeys his parents and teachers. He wants to become an engineer. His favourite game is cricket. He is the captain of our school team.

Akash helps me to become a better person. We share our feelings, emotions, and happiness with each other. We study and play together. I want him to be successful in life. We hope our friendship will last forever.

Essay on My Best Friend: 150 Words

The world looks dark without a true Friend. I am fortunate that I have a best friend. Her name is Riya. We are friends since childhood. Riya is my class fellow. She is a soft-spoken girl. She is tall and good-looking. She is sincere and attentive in her studies. She belongs to a middle-class family.

Riya is a disciplined and obedient girl. Her hobbies are drawing, singing, and dancing. Everyone admires her because of her good behavior. Her aim in life is to be a doctor. Riya and I study and play together. We share our secrets, happiness, and sadness with each other. Whenever I face any problem, she helps me to get rid of the problem by providing the best solutions. I feel really lucky to have her as my best friend. May God give everyone a friend like Riya.

Also Read: Paragraph on My Best Friend

Essay About Best Friend: 200 Words

Man is a gregarious animal. He can not live alone. He wants to talk, love, and meet his fellow man, so he wants to have a friend. A friend is a person whom one loves, likes, talks and often meets, This brings happiness to a man’s life. A friendless man is never happy. He leads a sad life.

It is difficult to get a good friend. It is truly said that “Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find.” My friend Rajesh is a faithful friend. Rajesh is my classmate and a close friend of mine. He belongs to a rich family. His father is a popular doctor. Mahesh is a simple and handsome boy. He is always smiling.

Rajesh has many qualities. He is a laborious boy. He is always serious for study. He is attentive in class and a topper in class examinations. He is practical and wears clean and neat dress. He is kind and helpful to other students. He is good at Mathematics. So, whenever I find difficulties in my Mathematics homework he helps me out. He is never proud. He takes keen interest in school activities, games, and sports. He takes an active part in debates.

Rajesh is a friend who guides me on the right path in life. I want him to be with me in every aspect of my life.

Essay on Best Friend: 300 Words

A true friend is a precious thing. Without a friend, life is dull and boring. I am really lucky to have a true friend. There are 5-6 friends of mine. But Rahul is my real friend. He is a genuine friend. Rahul is my best friend. We are made for each other.

I am proud of Rahul, and so is Rahul of me. We cannot live even for a single day without seeing each other. He has been my class fellow since my early childhood. Our friendship is natural and so everlasting. He comes from a respectable family. His mother is a religious lady and a housewife. Rahul is the only child of his parents. They love Rahul more than their own life. My parents also love him as dearly as they love me.

Rahul’s father is the Principal of a degree college. He is very learned and knowledgeable. And so, Rahul has inherited good intelligence and wisdom. He is brilliant in his studies. Science subjects are his favourite.

He helps me in these subjects. I am very good in English, and help him in this subject. There is a healthy competition between us. But are never envious of each other’s achievements.

Rahul wants to become a big and successful engineer. I want to be a lecturer. Rahul is a very good story-teller and singer. But he likes my jokes and anecdotes the best. We have a common hobby of collecting stamps. We both have a very good collection of stamps. We exchange stamps and information on the subject.

Rahul’s nature is sweet. He is very lovable. He often visits our house and in return, I also pay him visits. I am really lucky to have him as my friend. We together share our joys and sorrows. I have learnt much from him.

Also Read: My Best Friend 10 Lines in English

My Best Friend Essay: 500 Words

Introduction.

‘A man is known by the company he keeps’, Says a proverb. Hence one needs to be very careful in selecting friends. As Shakespeare has pointed out in his play ‘As You Like It’, ‘Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly’. Fair-weather friends are plenty; true and reliable friends are few and far between.

My Best Friend

I have many friends in my school , but most of them are only so-called friends. They are not dependable. Out of them, only Arvind is my true and sincere friend. He is my best friend. I am, indeed, proud of his friendship.

Arvind is the only son of a district court judge. Even then he is very humble and modest. His financial position is sound and enviable. Yet prosperity has not turned him proud and rude. He is not puffed with pride.

His Qualities

Arvind has all the fine qualities of head and heart. He is tall, healthy, and handsome. He is affectionate, kind, sociable, and extremely helpful. He is a good sportsman on the playground and an inviable scholar in the classroom.  All praise, honour, and admiration sit lightly on him. He is not swollen-headed. He is all the more modest and polite because of them.

He is a hard-working boy. He is kind and compassionate. His heart melts at the sight of poverty, sickness and human suffering of any kind. In order to serve the suffering humanity selflessly, he has decided to become a doctor and set up his medical practice in some rural Adivasi area. He often says that the selfless service of the poor is the true service of God.

Our Friendship

I am so proud that I have such an ideal friend like Arvind. Because of his company and rare friendship, my outlook, attitude, and behaviour have been positively influenced. His friendship has given a new, healthy dimension to my life and I, now, look forward to a happy and bright future.

Arvind is indeed, the architect of my life and the moulder of my destiny in the right direction. He is my friend, guide, and philosopher. I envy myself for having such an ideal friend.

Read More: 1. Wonder of Science Essay 2. My Favourite Season Essay 3. Essay on Newspaper

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How To Write a My Best Friend Essay

Definition: What Is a My Best Friend Essay?

Write about what you know is sage advice often given to fledgling writers. And what do many of our young students know more about than their trusty sidekick, who is a constant presence through thick and thin?

A My Best Friend Essay is precisely what it sounds like; an essay the student writes that is focused on their closest pal’s endearing attributes (and otherwise).

However, the My Best Friend Essay is more than just a chance for students to wax lyrical about their BFFs. It is an authentic opportunity for students to hone their composition skills and exercise their creative flair. 

All this while talking about one of their best mate – not bad!

STRUCTURING a My Best Friend Essay

This is an essay. It says so right there in the title! Just how complex the structure of a student’s essay is will depend on essential factors such as age and ability. However, the 5-paragraph essay structure is a perfect framework for this type of composition.

One of the most beautiful aspects of the 5-paragraph essay is that it is easily modified to differentiate between lower or higher ability students by simply adjusting the number of paragraphs. The essay will still contain the same essential elements of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion, regardless of how long it is.

The 5-paragraph (or hamburger) essay is a craft in itself and much too broad a topic to go into at length. Check out our complete guide here if you want more detail on this handy essay template.

Briefly though, in essence, the 5-paragraph essay comprises three parts:

• The Introduction : The opening paragraph will orient the reader to the topic of the essay, in this case, by introducing the show’s star, the best friend .
• The Body : In the traditional 5-paragraph essay, this makes up three of the five paragraphs. In this type of essay, the student will use these paragraphs to flesh out the main reasons they value their friend, or (at a more advanced level) they will tell a story about them that illustrates why they are the student’s best friend.
• The Conclusion : In the conclusion, the student can sum up why their friend holds the hallowed title of ‘best’. Or, at a higher level, the student can use the final paragraph of their essay to look forward to the future of their relationship with their best friend. 

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My Best Friend Essay Story

While we are teaching a short essay on my best friend’, it can also be approached from another angle, i.e., as a nonfiction story.

While the clearcut essay format may be eminently suitable for younger students, you may wish to revisit this genre with older students, this time emphasising storytelling.

In this creative nonfiction approach, students can merge the essay format with storytelling elements such as character, setting, central conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. 

Constructing their best friend composition in this manner allows students to work on structuring a nonfiction text. Simultaneously, it offers them a chance to develop their creative flair.

My Best Friend in 10 Lines

Another approach particularly well-suited to younger students is the my best friend essay 10 lines format.

This helps younger students get writing by giving them a clear target to aim for, which makes planning easy.

However, you can still introduce the three elements of the 5-paragraph essay here. As students list the points they want to make in their 10 lines, they can be encouraged to group these into introduction, body, and conclusion sections. 

For example, a plan might look like this:

A ‘My Best Friend in 10 Lines’ Plan

Introduction

Line 1: My friend’s name.

Line 2: What she looks like.

Line 3: Where she is from/her family.

Line 4: What friendship means to me.

Line 5: How we met.

Line 6: The kindest thing she has ever done.

Line 7: The funniest thing she has ever done.

Line 8: My absolute favorite thing about her.

Line 9: Restate why she is my best friend.

Line 10: How I see our future together.

To complete their 10-line ode to their friend, the student simply builds proper sentences around each of these (or similar) ideas.

More on Planning a My Best Friend Composition

As we can see in the sample plan above, the planning process is relatively straightforward when the 5-paragraph essay structure serves as a framework. However, we may want to take things up a notch for students of a higher ability.

A good, old-fashioned brainstorming session is an excellent starting point for the student. They can list their favorite memories and their friend’s best features.

While younger students may inevitably write something of a hagiography (a biography of a saint!), older students may want to present a more realistic portrait of their ever-present amigo.

Likewise, if the student is undertaking their composition in a narrative nonfiction form, they’ll need to map out the narrative arc of their story at the planning stage.

As with any story, the conflict will serve as the engine of the narrative. However, this conflict does not have to take the form of a problem between the writer and the best friend. After all, this text is more likely to be something of a love letter than a letter of complaint. Instead, the conflict is more likely to take the form of a problem or a challenge faced by the writer and their pal together.

Whether or not the student’s text will take a full-blown story form, true-to-life anecdotes will bring life to the student’s writing. The planning process is the perfect time to dump these onto paper, even if they don’t all make it into the final draft.

How to Start a MY Best Friend Essay

As with most text types, fiction or nonfiction, the writer will want to grab the reader’s attention from the outset. An effective way of doing this is by using a hook.

How to Hook The Reader

The student writer has many methods available to grasp the reader’s attention. While some of these will only be suitable for more advanced students, most can be adapted with a bit of effort for our younger writers.

• Start in the Middle of the Action

Technically known as, In Medias Res , this technique involves opening the story in the middle of a moment of dramatic tension with the exposition filled in later. This type of wizardry is probably best reserved for the more skilled student writer.

• Make a Bold Promise at the Outset

The promise of a big payoff can undoubtedly catch a reader’s eye and draw them in, but the student-writer must follow through later in the text. For less experienced students, you may want to offer a writing prompt to help out here. For example, 

My best friend Jack is truly one of a kind, but just how special he is wasn’t clear to me until the day a fire broke out in our school.

Students can quickly adapt such prompts by changing the event mentioned to their own circumstances.

• Create a Sense of Intimacy

Another way to grasp the reader’s interest is to create a sense of intimacy right from the start. This can be achieved by addressing the reader directly in a conversational tone. Students should use informal language and approach writing their text as if they were speaking to a close friend – this is perfect for this writing style.

• Open with an Anecdote

Another way to create interest (and a sense of intimacy) is to open up with an interesting anecdote about the friend. Students can select an interesting or humorous story to use as a carrot to entice the reader in. The student could substitute an exciting or amusing fact in shorter pieces for a full-blown anecdote.

• Begin with a Quotation

Quotes are a great way to garner attention. There are many online repositories of inspirational quotes on every topic under the sun where students can find a golden nugget of friendship-based wisdom to open their masterpieces. They must simply type in keywords such as ‘famous’, ‘quotes’, and ‘friendship’ to uncover a smorgasbord of well-articulated wisdom for students to choose from. However, students should ensure the sentiment expressed in their selected quote ties into the type of friendship described in their work.

Working the Body

As we stated earlier in this article, the 5-paragraph essay structure, or the narrative writing arc, lays out a suitable template for the student-writer to work their way through the body of their text. However, it’s worth pointing out five areas where a little attention can significantly impact.

• Get Specific

The devil’s in the details. The more specific the student is in their writing, the more effectively they will communicate with the reader.

Encourage students to be as precise as possible in their descriptions. A thesaurus is an excellent tool to help students find just the right word for the job.

• Vary Sentence Length

Often, emergent writers rely on the same couple of simple sentence structures in their writing. This soon makes the writing monotonous for the reader; if they continue to read, it is only with effort that they will finish the student’s work.

Variety is not only the spice of life but also the spice of good writing. Encourage students to vary their sentence structures and alternate between long and short sentences to diversify the rhythm of their writing and evoke interest on the reader’s part.

• Use Dialogue

Weaving dialogue into a my best friend essay text is a great way to bring colour and variety to a student’s writing. It also allows the student to practice punctuating dialogue – an essential skill!

Students will need to learn to listen carefully if they are to be able to write how people actually speak. Encouraging them to read their dialogue aloud is an effective way to check if it rings true.

• Incorporate Literary Devices

Though this is undoubtedly a nonfiction text, it has firm roots in creative writing too. Students should incorporate some of the literary techniques and devices that we’d more commonly associate with poetry and fiction writing to add colour, creativity, and imagination to their writing.

For example, for younger students, physical descriptions of their BFF provide the perfect opportunity to introduce similes and hyperbole. Don’t be afraid to get comical here; writing should be fun, after all. 

Does their friend have a big nose? How big? As big as an elephant’s trunk, perhaps?

Just make sure students avoid being too mean or poking fun at areas too sensitive for their friends.

It is easy to differentiate different abilities by challenging stronger students to use more complex literary devices in their work. Zoomorphism anyone?

• Evoke the Five Senses

Emergent writers often display a bias towards only using the sense of sight in their descriptions. To bring their writing up a notch, encourage your students to employ all five senses in their writing.

By evoking the sense of hearing, smell, taste, and touch in their work, students will help their writing to come alive in the reader’s imagination.

WRAPPING THINGS Up

In a regular 5-paragraph essay, the concluding paragraph is usually the time to summarize the main arguments and drive home the thesis statement one more time. Obviously, things are a little bit different in a “my best friend essay.”

Of course, students can take the opportunity to revisit and restate the main reasons why their best friend holds the best-friend-championship belt. Still, there is a more artistic way to use their composition’s final paragraph.

Ask students to think about their friendship and where they see it in five, ten, twenty, or even forty years.

Undoubtedly, for younger students, in particular, this may be a bit of a challenge, but it can be a fun thought experiment too. Students can pose themselves questions to help, such as:

• Will we be neighbours?
• Will we work together?
• Will our children go to school together? Etc.

Taking a tentative step into the possibilities of the future can make for an impactful ending.

MY BEST FRIEND ESSAY EXAMPLE

So that should get you well on your way to creating an excellent my best friend essay that will not only get you some great grades but also score you some brownie points.

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