Chinese word

难兄难弟

Pronunciation

Pinyinnàn xiōng nàn dì

Meaning

  • idiomfellow sufferers

Example

他们两个是难兄难弟，都在为学费发愁。tā men liǎng gè shì nàn xiōng nàn dì dōu zài wèi xué fèi fā chóu

The two of them are fellow sufferers, and both are worried about tuition.

Illustration for 难兄难弟 (fellow sufferers)

More examples

疫情期间，很多小店主成了难兄难弟。yì qíng qī jiān hěn duō xiǎo diàn zhǔ chéng le nàn xiōng nàn dì

During the pandemic, many small shop owners became fellow sufferers.

Core concept

Two people travel the same hard road, sharing troubles so closely that neither seems better off than the other.

Common phrases

  • 成了难兄难弟chéng le nàn xiōng nàn dì

    become fellow sufferers

  • 是难兄难弟shì nàn xiōng nàn dì

    be fellow sufferers

Similar words

半斤八两bàn jīn bā liǎng: Describes ability, results, or status that are almost equal, without a clear difference.
彼此彼此bí cí bí cǐ: A conversational way to say that both sides are alike in their situation, with no clear advantage.

Definition in Chinese

指两人境遇或处境相似，常用于形容两人同样倒霉或不如意。zhǐ liǎng rén jìng yù huò chǔ jìng xiāng sì cháng yòng yú xíng róng liǎng rén tóng yàng dǎo méi huò bù rú yì

Word origin

The paired terms 难 (nàn, "troubled"), 兄 (xiōng, "older brother"), and 弟 (dì, "younger brother") create a balanced picture of two people facing the same adversity.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may read the family terms literally, but the idiom commonly describes unrelated people sharing a rough situation, often with a light, self-mocking tone.

Other meanings

  • in similar circumstancesidiom
  • sympathize with each otheridiom

Opposites

Word lists with this word