Chinese Idiom: 海内存知己，天涯若比邻 (Hai Nei Cun Zhi Ji, Tian Ya Ruo Bi Lin)
English Translation: A True Friend is a Treasure, Even if Far Apart
pīn yīn: hǎi nèi cún zhī jǐ, tiān yá ruò bǐ lín
Idiom Meaning: This idiom emphasizes that as long as there is a true friendship, distance cannot diminish the closeness, making friends feel as close as neighbors.
Historical Source: From Wang Bo’s poem Farewell to Du Shaofu on His Appointment to Shuzhou during the Tang Dynasty.
Idiom Story:
During the Tang Dynasty under Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi, there lived a renowned young literary figure named Wang Bo, who hailed from Longmen in Shanxi Province. Wang Bo was considered one of the “Four Masters of Early Tang” alongside Yang Jiong, Lu Zhao-Lin, and Luo Binwang. His talent in writing was exceptional, and he achieved significant recognition early in his career.
At the age of fourteen, Wang Bo successfully passed the imperial examination and became a court official. He was later summoned by Prince Li Xian for his literary skills. However, his penchant for writing about the prince’s competitive cockfighting games angered Emperor Gaozong, leading to his dismissal from the court. Afterward, he served in a minor military post in Guo Zhou but was soon dismissed again due to misconduct.
Wang Bo then embarked on a journey through the rivers and mountains, exploring the vast landscapes of China. Tragically, at the age of twenty-eight, he drowned while crossing the sea to visit his father.
During his time in Chang’an, Wang Bo developed a close friendship with a man named Du, who was about to leave for Sichuan to take up an official position as the county magistrate (Shaofu). On the day of their farewell, Wang Bo composed a poem titled Farewell to Du Shaofu on His Appointment to Shuzhou, which included the lines:
“海内存知己，天涯若比邻。”
(A true friend is a treasure; even if far apart, we feel close as neighbors.)
The poem reflects the feelings of parting and shared experiences of those who leave their homes in search of careers. In it, he expresses that despite the physical distance that separates them, their friendship will remain strong, as if they lived next door to each other.
Wang Bo’s poignant words have since become a cherished idiom, encapsulating the sentiment that true friendship transcends distance and time.
