📖 Meaning
A friendship grounded in morality and righteousness. It refers to a relationship where friends support and help each other out of shared ethical values rather than personal gain.
📜 Origin Story
From the Qing dynasty novel Qiludeng (歧路灯, The Warning Lamp at the Crossroads) by Li Lüyuan, Chapter 38. The original passage states that a friendship based on morality and righteousness is already sufficient, so there is no need to dwell on petty grievances. The phrase underscores that genuine friendship should be built on ethical principles and mutual support rather than utility.
💡 Example Usage
他们二人是道义之交，患难与共，从不计较个人得失。
The two were friends bound by morality and righteousness, sharing hardships together without ever reckoning personal gains or losses.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 道义之交
- Pinyin: dào yì zhī jiāo
- Literal Translation: way, righteousness, of, friendship
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4