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qíng 情 tóng 同 shǒu 手 zú 足

情同手足 qíng tóng shǒu zú

as close as brothers

Literally: feeling same-as hands feet

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Origin

Descriptive; no single source story. Builds on the classical image of brothers as one's hands and feet, found in Mencius and the Tang poet Li Hua.

How to use it

Predicate or attributive; positive. Often 两人情同手足 / 情同手足的朋友.

Example sentences

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  1. 我们从小一起长大，情同手足。
    Wǒmen cóngxiǎo yīqǐ zhǎngdà, qíng tóng shǒu zú.
    We grew up together from childhood and are as close as brothers.
    we from-small together grow-up, feeling same-as hands feet
  2. 他们不是亲兄弟，但是情同手足。
    Tāmen bù shì qīn xiōngdì, dànshì qíng tóng shǒu zú.
    They aren't real brothers, but they are as close as brothers.
    they not are blood brothers, but feeling same-as hands feet

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