# 忘年之交

wàng nián zhī jiāo

A friendship across a substantial age difference

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** A friendship that sets age aside

**Register:** General · spoken & written

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

## When to use it

Describe friends who do not let a difference in generation limit their connection.

The phrase emphasizes friendship rather than an age hierarchy.

## The image & its use

Shared interests can create a friendship between people whose ages are quite different. This expression describes a bond in which that difference is not the central consideration. Two people may enjoy discussing books, gardening, or a craft and value what each contributes. It does not mean that their experiences are identical. They can acknowledge those differences while treating each other with respect. Naming the shared interest helps explain the friendship rather than presenting the age difference as its only notable feature.

## Examples

他们因喜爱园艺而成为忘年之交。

### Traditional Chinese

他們因喜愛園藝而成為忘年之交。

tā men yīn xǐ ài yuán yì ér chéng wéi wàng nián zhī jiāo 。

Their shared love of gardening led to a friendship across generations.

两人在读书会上结成忘年之交。

### Traditional Chinese

兩人在讀書會上結成忘年之交。

liǎng rén zài dú shū huì shàng jié chéng wàng nián zhī jiāo 。

The two became friends across a substantial age difference at the reading group.

这对忘年之交常互相推荐好书。

### Traditional Chinese

這對忘年之交常互相推薦好書。

zhè duì wàng nián zhī jiāo cháng hù xiāng tuī jiàn hǎo shū 。

The friends from different generations often recommend books to each other.

忘年之交也能从不同经历中互相学习。

### Traditional Chinese

忘年之交也能從不同經歷中互相學習。

wàng nián zhī jiāo yě néng cóng bù tóng jīng lì zhōng hù xiāng xué xí 。

Friends across generations can learn from their different experiences.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1517&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%BF%98%E5%B9%B4%E4%B9%8B%E4%BA%A4)

## Keep exploring

- [望眼欲穿 wàng yǎn yù chuān Wait with intense longing ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wang-yan-yu-chuan)

- [妄自尊大 wàng zì zūn dà Overestimate one's importance ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wang-zi-zun-da)

- [委曲求全 wěi qū qiú quán Make concessions to preserve a larger relationship or outcome ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wei-qu-qiu-quan)

- [唯唯诺诺 wéi wéi nuò nuò Agree timidly without expressing one's own view ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wei-wei-nuo-nuo)

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