tóng同sharegān甘sweetgòng共togetherkǔ苦bitter
Share the sweet and the bitter — go through everything together.
Literal meaning
share (同) — sweet (甘) — together (共) — bitter (苦)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase built from the natural pairing of 甘 (sweet) and 苦 (bitter). Used in Chinese letters since the Han dynasty for partnerships — military, marital, working — that don't break under hardship.
Examples
Wǒ我men们yì一qǐ起tóng同gān甘gòng共kǔ苦le了hěn很duō多nián年。
We've been through everything together for many years.
Zhēn真zhèng正de的péng朋yǒu友tóng同gān甘gòng共kǔ苦。
True friends share both sweet and bitter.
Usage & nuances
Warm, sincere. Often in toasts, anniversary speeches, retirement send-offs.
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