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March 24, 2026
朋友péngyou(peng2you5)
朋友 (péngyǒu) means 'friend' and refers to a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing social relationships. The term can also imply a sense of camaraderie or companionship.
Strokes12Frequency#166DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, friendships are often viewed as important and lasting relationships. Many Chinese people place a high value on loyalty and mutual support in friendships, often using terms like 朋友 to emphasize the significance of these bonds in social interactions.
Memory Tip
Think of 朋友 as a pair of hands (the radicals '月' and '朋') reaching out to connect with another person. Imagine two friends holding hands, symbolizing their bond. The pronunciation 'péngyǒu' sounds like 'peng you,' which can be remembered as 'penguin and you,' envisioning two penguins being friends.
Meanings of 朋友
péngyou(peng2you5)
1friend
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About 朋友
朋友Simplified
12Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#166Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 朋友
Podcast: 朋友
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AI Study Notes for 朋友
Quick Contrast
同伴 (tóngbàn) - use 朋友 (péngyǒu) for a more personal bond of friendship, while 同伴 (tóngbàn) often refers to a companion in a specific context or activity.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 朋友 with other similar words like 同伴 (tóngbàn), which means 'companion' and has a slightly different connotation. In casual conversations, you can often drop the subject when it's clear you're talking about friends. Remember that 朋友 is used in both singular and plural contexts, so you do not always need to specify the quantity.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 朋友 introduces basic vocabulary related to personal relationships. Students should focus on using it in simple sentences, such as '他是我的朋友' (Tā shì wǒ de péngyǒu) meaning 'He is my friend.' This word also connects well with other HSK 1 words like '我' (wǒ - I) and '是' (shì - is).
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 朋友 in a formal context where a term like 同事 (tóngshì - colleague) would be more appropriate. For example, saying '他是我的朋友' in a business meeting might not convey the intended professionalism.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 朋友
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Learning Lab
Knowing 朋友 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
朋友 (péngyǒu) means 'friend' and refers to a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing social relationships. The term can also imply a sense of camaraderie or companionship.
When to use 朋友
Be careful not to confuse 朋友 with other similar words like 同伴 (tóngbàn), which means 'companion' and has a slightly different connotation. In casual conversations, you can often drop the subject when it's clear you're talking about friends. Remember that 朋友 is used in both singular and plural contexts, so you do not always need to specify the quantity.
朋友 or something close to it
同伴 (tóngbàn) - use 朋友 (péngyǒu) for a more personal bond of friendship, while 同伴 (tóngbàn) often refers to a companion in a specific context or activity.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 朋友 in a formal context where a term like 同事 (tóngshì - colleague) would be more appropriate. For example, saying '他是我的朋友' in a business meeting might not convey the intended professionalism.
Write 朋友
朋
友
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Grammar Patterns of 朋友
朋友 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
