同舟共济 — “To be in the same boat and help each other”
同舟共济 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be in the same boat and help each other”. To pull together in a common cause; to stand united in adversity. Literally, “To cross a river in the same boat, offering mutual help”.
同舟共济 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 同tóng
- 舟zhōu
- 共gòng
- 济jì
同舟共济 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 同舟共济
Origin and Story of 同舟共济
During the Spring and Autumn Period, the states of Wu and Yue were constantly at war. Their people also regarded each other as enemies.
One day, people from both states happened to be on the same boat crossing a river. As the boat set off, they glared at each other, looking ready to fight.
However, when the boat reached the middle of the river, a fierce storm suddenly broke out, and it seemed as though the boat would capsize.
To save their lives, they put aside their animosity, helping each other and working together to stabilize the boat. Only then did they escape the natural disaster and safely reached the opposite bank.
Idioms Related to 同舟共济
Synonyms of 同舟共济
Antonyms of 同舟共济
More idioms starting with 同
- tóng同yè业xiāng相chóu仇competitors are often at odds
- tóng同chóu仇dí敌kài忾share a common hatred for the enemy
- tóng同chóu仇dí敌kǎi慨unite in common hatred against an enemy
- tóng同xiū休gòng共qī戚share joy and sorrow
- tóng同xiū休děng等qī戚share joys and sorrows
- tóng同chū出yī一zhé辙cut from the same cloth
- tóng同lì利xiāng相sǐ死share interests, die for each other
- tóng同lì力xié协qì契unite and make concerted efforts
- tóng同gōng功yī一tǐ体share same achievements and status
- tóng同mìng命yùn运gòng共hū呼xī吸share common destiny and interests
- tóng同chuí垂bù不xiǔ朽achieve immortal fame together
- tóng同táng堂xiōng兄dì弟paternal cousins
Questions about 同舟共济
- What does 同舟共济 mean?
- 同舟共济 (tóng zhōu gòng jì) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be in the same boat and help each other”.
- How do you pronounce 同舟共济?
- 同舟共济 is pronounced tóng zhōu gòng jì in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 同舟共济 literally mean?
- Literally, 同舟共济 means “to cross a river in the same boat, offering mutual help”. It is used to mean “to be in the same boat and help each other”.
- Where does 同舟共济 come from?
- 同舟共济 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 同舟共济?
- 舟：船；济：渡，过洒。坐一条船，共同渡河。比喻团结互助，同心协力，战胜困难。也比喻利害相同。