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两肋插刀 (liǎng lèi chā dāo) — (idiom) to go through fire and water for a friend; to make great sacrifices for friendship

Definition

Literally 'stab a knife through both ribs' — a chengyu for being ready to sacrifice your life for a close friend, more extreme than just 'helping out'. Used for sworn brothers and deep loyalty, not casual favors.

idiom
to go through fire and water for a friendto make great sacrifices for friendship

Examples

  • 两肋插刀，。
    Tā wèi péng you liǎng lèi chā dāo, háo bù yóu yù.
    He goes through fire and water for his friend without hesitation.
  • ，两肋插刀。
    Zài zhè ge guān jiàn shí kè, tā yuàn yì wèi xiōng dì liǎng lèi chā dāo.
    At this critical moment, he is willing to go to great lengths for his brother.
  • 两肋插刀。
    Zhēn zhèng de péng you huì zài nǐ xū yào shí liǎng lèi chā dāo.
    True friends will go through anything for you when you need them.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 兩; 两 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 兩 is described as combining 一 and 㒳. The simplified 两 is a later abbreviation.

Open 两 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
肉肉ròumeat; body part
Sound part声符shēngfú
力
力lì肋lèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

肋 puts 肉 (body part) beside 力, which gives the sound.

Open 肋 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 插 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 刀 comes from a simple picture of a knife.

Open 刀 →
Appears in
Friends & SocialIdioms & Set Phrases

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