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tóng 同 gān 甘 gòng 共 kǔ 苦

同甘共苦 tóng gān gòng kǔ

to share joys and hardships; through thick and thin

Literally: share sweet together bitter

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Origin

From the Zhanguo Ce: King Goujian of Yue (or, in another account, King Zhao of Yan) shared the hardships of his people to rebuild his state.

How to use it

Predicate or attributive; positive. Often 同甘共苦的朋友 / 和……同甘共苦.

Example sentences

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  1. 他们是同甘共苦了二十年的老朋友。
    Tāmen shì tóng gān gòng kǔ le èrshí nián de lǎo péngyou.
    They are old friends who have been through thick and thin together for twenty years.
    they are share sweet together bitter (particle) twenty years (particle) old friend
  2. 结婚以后，夫妻应该同甘共苦。
    Jiéhūn yǐhòu, fūqī yīnggāi tóng gān gòng kǔ.
    After marriage, husband and wife should share both joys and hardships.
    marry after, husband-wife should share sweet together bitter

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