# 志同道合

zhì tóng dào hé

Share ideals and a common purpose

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** The same aspirations and matching paths

**Register:** Positive · conversational

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

## When to use it

Use for people whose values and goals align.

Shared hobbies alone may not imply shared ideals.

## Behind the words

Traditional writing connects enduring friendship with shared aspirations and a common path. The expression makes alignment more important than mere proximity.

志 concerns aspirations, while 道 points to a shared path or principles. The expression describes agreement in goals or values, not simply similar personalities. People can be 志同道合 while disagreeing about methods. It often explains why a friendship, team, or partnership has a strong foundation.

## Examples

我很幸运，找到了一群志同道合的伙伴。

### Traditional Chinese

我很幸運，找到了一群志同道合的夥伴。

wǒ hěn xìng yùn ， zhǎo dào le yì qún zhì tóng dào hé de huǒ bàn 。

I’m lucky to have found a group of people who share my goals.

他们在读书会上认识，因为志同道合，很快成了朋友。

### Traditional Chinese

他們在讀書會上認識，因為志同道合，很快成了朋友。

tā men zài dú shū huì shàng rèn shi ， yīn wèi zhì tóng dào hé ， hěn kuài chéng le péng yǒu 。

They met at a reading group and quickly became friends through shared interests and ideals.

这个项目吸引了一群志同道合的年轻人。

### Traditional Chinese

這個項目吸引了一群志同道合的年輕人。

zhè ge xiàng mù xī yǐn le yì qún zhì tóng dào hé de nián qīng rén 。

The project attracted young people with a common purpose.

找一位志同道合的合伙人，比只找出资的人更重要。

### Traditional Chinese

找一位志同道合的合夥人，比只找出資的人更重要。

zhǎo yí wèi zhì tóng dào hé de hé huǒ rén ， bǐ zhī zhǎo chū zī de rén gèng zhòng yào 。

Finding a partner who shares your aims matters more than simply finding someone with money.

## 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=1002&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%BF%97%E5%90%8C%E9%81%93%E5%90%88)

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