天涯若比鄰

Chinese

		far corners of the world; distant lands	to seem; like; as to seem; like; as; if	neighbour; to be near; to be close neighbour; to be near; to be close; to be next to
trad. (天涯若比鄰)		天涯	若	比鄰
simp. (天涯若比邻)		天涯	若	比邻

Etymology

Literally: the far ends of heaven are like next door.

城闕輔三秦，風煙望五津。與君離別意，同是宦游人。海內存知己，天涯若比鄰。無為在歧路，兒女共沾巾。 [MSC, trad.][▼ expand/hide]
城阙辅三秦，风烟望五津。与君离别意，同是宦游人。海内存知己，天涯若比邻。无为在歧路，儿女共沾巾。 [MSC, simp.]

From: c. 647 – 675: Wang Bo, 《送杜少府之任蜀州》 (Seeing off Vice-prefect Du on the occasion of his appointment to the state of Shu)

Chéngquè fǔ sānqín, fēngyān wàng wǔjīn. Yǔ jūn líbié yì, tóng shì huàn yóu rén. Hǎinèi cún zhījǐ, tiānyá ruò bǐlín. Wúwèi zài qílù, érnǚ gòng zhān jīn. [Pinyin]

The watch towers are protected by the three Qin states, I can make out the land of the five crossings in the distance. My mood (is somber) as I part from you, We are both officials traveling (far from home). When one has a close friend in this world, the far ends of heaven are like next door. (Therefore, when we reach the) fork in the road (where we must part), let us not exchange kerchiefs moistened (with tears like) women and children.

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): tiānyá ruò bǐlín

(Zhuyin): ㄊㄧㄢㄧㄚˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄧˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ
Cantonese (Jyutping): tin¹ ngaai⁴ joek⁶ bei² leon⁴

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Pinyin: tiānyá ruò bǐlín
  - Zhuyin: ㄊㄧㄢㄧㄚˊ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄧˇ ㄌㄧㄣˊ
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tianya ruoh biilin
  - IPA ^(key): /tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ i̯a̠³⁵ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ pi²¹⁴⁻²¹¹ lin³⁵/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: tin¹ ngaai⁴ joek⁶ bei² leon⁴
  - Yale: tīn ngàaih yeuhk béi lèuhn
  - Cantonese Pinyin: tin¹ ngaai⁴ joek⁹ bei² loen⁴
  - Guangdong Romanization: tin¹ ngai⁴ yêg⁶ béi² lên⁴
  - IPA ^(key): /tʰiːn⁵⁵ ŋɑːi̯²¹ jœːk̚² pei̯³⁵ lɵn²¹/

Idiom

天涯若比鄰

to feel a closeness to a friend or loved one despite being separated by a great distance
- 天涯若比鄰──在MSN Messenger中搜索好友 [MSC, trad.]
  天涯若比邻──在MSN Messenger中搜索好友 [MSC, simp.]
  From: 2004, 人民网
  tiānyá ruò bǐlín ── zài MSN Messenger zhōng sōusuǒ hǎoyǒu [Pinyin]
  Staying connected - Using MSN Messenger to find friends.

Usage notes

This phrase is often used when talking about the Internet, long-distance phones etc.

Derived terms

海內存知己，天涯若比鄰／海内存知己，天涯若比邻 (hǎinèi cún zhījǐ, tiānyá ruò bǐlín)

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