sworn brotherhood/sisterhood
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to become sworn brothers or sisters; to pledge friendship as siblings
informalA traditional custom where non-blood-related friends perform a ritual to formally establish a familial bond. Often involves making vows, exchanging gifts, and kowtowing to heaven/earth. Historically common among men, but can also involve women.
Tā他
men们
liǎ俩
yì意
qì气
xiāng相
tóu投
，
jiù就
bài拜
le了
bǎ把
zi子
。
They hit it off so well that they became sworn brothers.
《
Sān三
Guó国
Yǎn演
Yì义
》
lǐ里
，
Liú刘
Bèi备
、
Guān关
Yǔ羽
、
Zhāng张
Fēi飞
zài在
táo桃
yuán园
bài拜
bǎ把
zi子
。
In 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms,' Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei became sworn brothers in the Peach Garden.
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Xiàn现
zài在
nián年
qīng轻
rén人
hěn很
shǎo少
bài拜
bǎ把
zi子
le了
。
Young people nowadays rarely become sworn siblings.