永远的朋友
yǒngyuǎn de péngyou
Friends forever · trad. 永遠的朋友
永远的朋友 (yǒngyuǎn de péngyou) is a warm and sincere way to express the wish or belief that a friendship will last forever. It's commonly used among close friends to affirm their deep bond.
What does 永远的朋友 (yǒngyuǎn de péngyou) mean?
永远的朋友 (yǒngyuǎn de péngyou) means “friends forever” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “eternal friends.”
When to use it
Warm and heartfelt. It's suitable for both casual conversations and more sentimental occasions. For a more poetic or formal expression, you can use 友谊永存 (yǒuyì yǒngcún), meaning "friendship lasts forever." To emphasize a lifelong commitment, use 一辈子朋友 (yībèizi péngyou), "friends for life."
How to pronounce it
Sounds roughly like "YONG-ywen duh PUNG-yoh." The first character 永 (yǒng) is a third tone, and the second 远 (yuǎn) is also a third tone. Due to tone sandhi, the first 永 changes to a rising tone.
Other ways to say it
- 友谊长存yǒuyì zhǎngcúnfriendship lasts forever (more poetic)
- 一辈子朋友yībèizi péngyoufriends for life
- 永远是朋友yǒngyuǎn shì péngyouwe are friends forever (emphasizes the state)
Examples
我们永远是朋友。
wǒmen yǒngyuǎn shì péngyou.
We are friends forever.
我希望我们永远是朋友。
wǒ xīwàng wǒmen yǒngyuǎn shì péngyou.
I hope we'll be friends forever.
我们说好要做永远的朋友。
wǒmen shuōhǎo yào zuò yǒngyuǎn de péngyou.
We promised to be friends forever.
Pro tip: Tone change: When two third tones appear consecutively, the first one changes to a second (rising) tone. So, 永远 (yǒngyuǎn) is pronounced 'yóngyuǎn,' not 'yǒngyuǎn.'
Related phrases
好朋友 · Best friend最好的朋友 · Best friends中国朋友 · China friends
Want to speak Chinese for real?
Start a free lesson with a native teacher →
Start a free lesson with a native teacher →