Chinese

朋友

péngyou
friend (Classifier: 個／个 m c; 位 m c)
  • HSK 1
  • TOCFL 1

Etymology graph

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  • meaning component
  • sound component
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Origin

The term 朋友 (péngyou) is formed by the characters 朋 and 友. According to the MOE Dictionary, it refers to a friend, or people who have a relationship with one another. It can also serve as a term of address for a South Asian person, or refer to a partner, boyfriend, or girlfriend.

The character 朋 represents a unit of shell money, though various theories exist regarding the exact amount. The character 友 means friend or companion. In the formation of 友, the component 又 (again; once more) serves as a phonetic component.

Confidence: high · written by gemma4:26b, checked statement-by-statement against the sources below.

「朋友」是由「朋」與「友」兩個字組成。在字形構成上，「朋」字代表的是貝貨的單位，關於其確切的數量目前存在多種不同的說法。

「友」字則含有朋友、同伴的意思。根據音符分析，「友」字包含了具有「又」這個音符的成分。兩字結合，用來指稱彼此有交情的人。

Confidence: high · written by gemma4:26b, checked statement-by-statement against the sources below.

Lineage

  • characterChinese朋 “unit of shell money; various theories exist about the exact amount”
  • characterChinese友 “friend; companion”
    • soundChinese又 “again; once more”
Wiktionary etymology text

No etymology text yet. The graph shows what is known from the sources.

Sources