Definition
This four-character idiom literally means 'to call each other older and younger brother,' but it carries a critical or cynical tone — it describes people who act overly familiar and intimate for social or material gain. You should use it when you want to imply the friendship is performative rather than genuine. Note: the character 称 is commonly read as chēng in this idiom, though the source pinyin lists chèn.
f.e.
(idiom, often derogatory) to act like sworn brothersto be on showy intimate terms for ulterior motives
Examples
- ，，称兄道弟。Tāmen liǎ biǎomiàn shàng yí tào, sī dǐxià què hùxiāng suànjì, zhēnshi chèn.The two of them put on a show in public but scheme against each other in private — truly just calling each other brothers for show.
- 称兄道弟，。Nàxiē jiǔròu péngyou chèn, děng nǐ yǒu nàn le shéi yě bù guǎn nǐ.Those fair-weather friends act like brothers, but when you're in trouble, nobody cares about you.
- 称兄道弟，。Gāng rènshi yì tiān jiù chèn, zhè zhǒng rén kào bu zhù.Calling each other brothers after only knowing each other for a day — that kind of person is not reliable.
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