# 同甘共苦

tóng gān gòng kǔ

Share both good and hard times

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Share sweetness and bitterness

**Register:** Warm · conversational

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Use to praise people who stay together through comfort and hardship.

It covers both good and difficult times, not only shared enjoyment.

## Behind the words

The image pairs sweet and bitter experiences. Shared fortune and hardship become a measure of a lasting bond.

Sweetness and bitterness stand for favorable and difficult experiences. The idiom praises a relationship in which people share both kinds of circumstances. It often describes loyalty built over time rather than cooperation on one isolated task. Compare 同舟共济, which emphasizes overcoming a shared difficulty; 同甘共苦 also includes sharing the benefits and happiness when life improves.

## Examples

他们多年同甘共苦，彼此都很信任。

### Traditional Chinese

他們多年同甘共苦，彼此都很信任。

tā men duō nián tóng gān gòng kǔ ， bǐ cǐ dōu hěn xìn rèn 。

They have shared good and hard times for years and trust each other deeply.

他们从创业第一天起就同甘共苦。

### Traditional Chinese

他們從創業第一天起就同甘共苦。

tā men cóng chuàng yè dì yī tiān qǐ jiù tóng gān gòng kǔ 。

They have shared both good and difficult times since starting the business.

真正的朋友愿意同甘共苦，不只在成功时出现。

### Traditional Chinese

真正的朋友願意同甘共苦，不只在成功時出現。

zhēn zhèng de péng yǒu yuàn yì tóng gān gòng kǔ ， bù zhī zài chéng gōng shí chū xiàn 。

Real friends share hard times as well as success.

这对夫妻多年同甘共苦，一起渡过了最困难的日子。

### Traditional Chinese

這對夫妻多年同甘共苦，一起渡過了最困難的日子。

zhè duì fū qī duō nián tóng gān gòng kǔ ， yì qǐ dù guò le zuì kùn nán de rì zi 。

The couple shared life's joys and hardships for years and got through their hardest days together.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 4, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=7576&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%90%8C%E7%94%98%E5%85%B1%E8%8B%A6)

## Keep exploring

- [痛心疾首 tòng xīn jí shǒu Feel deep distress or bitter regret ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tong-xin-ji-shou)

- [同舟共济 tóng zhōu gòng jì Work together through difficulty ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tong-zhou-gong-ji)

- [投其所好 tóu qí suǒ hào Appeal to someone's particular preferences ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tou-qi-suo-hao)

- [投桃报李 tóu táo bào lǐ Return a kindness ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tou-tao-bao-li)

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