好朋友
hǎo péngyou
Best friend
好朋友 (hǎo péngyou) is the most common and versatile way to say "best friend" in Mandarin Chinese. While it literally means "good friend," it often implies a close, best friend relationship in everyday conversation.
What does 好朋友 (hǎo péngyou) mean?
好朋友 (hǎo péngyou) means “best friend” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “good friend.”
When to use it
Neutral. To explicitly say "the very best friend," you can use 最好的朋友 (zuì hǎo de péngyou). For female best friends, 闺蜜 (guīmì) is a very common and intimate term. For male best friends, 哥们儿 (gēmenr) is a casual and friendly term, often heard with an 'r' sound in northern China.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "how PUNG-yoh." 好 (hǎo) is a third tone, and 朋友 (péngyou) is a second tone followed by a neutral tone.
Other ways to say it
- 最好的朋友zuì hǎo de péngyouthe very best friend
- 闺蜜guīmìfemale best friend / close girlfriend
- 哥们儿gēmenrmale best friend / buddy
Examples
她是我最好的朋友。
tā shì wǒ zuì hǎo de péngyou.
She is my best friend.
我们是大学时的好朋友。
wǒmen shì dàxué shí de hǎo péngyou.
We were best friends in college.
我的闺蜜下周要结婚了。
wǒ de guīmì xiàzhōu yào jiéhūn le.
My best girlfriend is getting married next week.
Pro tip: While 好朋友 literally means 'good friend,' it's often used for 'best friend' in casual conversation. If you want to emphasize 'the very best,' add 最 (zuì, 'most/best') to make it 最好的朋友. Also, remember the gender-specific terms 闺蜜 and 哥们儿 for more nuanced expression.
Related phrases
最好的朋友 · Best friends宝贝 · Bae中国朋友 · China friends
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