朋友
péngyou
Friend
朋友 (péngyou) is the most common and versatile way to say "friend" in Mandarin Chinese. It can refer to a casual acquaintance, a close companion, or even be used as a general term of address in some contexts.
What does 朋友 (péngyou) mean?
朋友 (péngyou) means “friend” in English.
When to use it
Neutral and widely applicable. While 朋友 can be used for anyone from an acquaintance to a close companion, for a very close friend, you can say 好朋友 (hǎo péngyou). Among men, 哥们儿 (gēmenr) is a common casual term for "buddy." For a romantic partner, use 男朋友 (nán péngyou) for boyfriend or 女朋友 (nǚ péngyou) for girlfriend.
How to pronounce it
Sounds roughly like “PUNG-yoh.” The first syllable is a rising tone, and the second syllable is typically pronounced with a light, neutral tone.
Other ways to say it
- 好朋友hǎo péngyougood friend / close friend
- 老朋友lǎo péngyouold friend (implying a long-standing friendship)
- 哥们儿gēmenrbuddy / pal (informal, mostly for men)
Examples
他是我最好的朋友。
tā shì wǒ zuì hǎo de péngyou.
He is my best friend.
我们是老朋友了。
wǒmen shì lǎo péngyou le.
We are old friends.
你有很多朋友吗？
nǐ yǒu hěn duō péngyou ma?
Do you have many friends?
Pro tip: While 朋友 means "friend," be careful not to confuse it with romantic partners. For a boyfriend or girlfriend, you specifically say 男朋友 (nán péngyou) or 女朋友 (nǚ péngyou).
Related phrases
好朋友 · Best friend最好的朋友 · Best friends爸爸 · Dad
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