岁寒三友
suì hán sān yǒu
pine, bamboo and plum, the three friends of winter; (fig.) friends who stay loyal in hard times
Character by character
岁suì
year
year
寒hán
cold
cold
三sān
three
three
友yǒu
friends
friends
Example
他书房里挂着一幅《岁寒三友图》，画的是松、竹、梅。
A painting of the Three Friends of Winter, pine, bamboo and plum, hangs in his study.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
The pine and bamboo stay green and the plum flowers in the cold at the end of the year. The idea goes back to Confucius: 岁寒，然后知松柏之后凋也 (《论语·子罕》). A favourite subject of paintings, porcelain and greeting cards; also said of three old friends.
Learn this in Lesson 169 · HSK 7–9: 市花与市树 (City flowers and city trees)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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