Jūnzǐ zhī jiāo, dàn rú shuǐ.*

Lit Friendship between gentlemen [is] clear as water.

Fig Although the friendship between (upper class) gentlefolk may appear distant, the friendship is still very much there, untainted by shallow self-interest.

Note [Often followed by xiǎorén zhī jiāo, tián rú mì (q.v.); cf. Zhuāngzǐ: Shān Mù and Shǐ Jì: Biǎo Jì; note: dàn, (lit) “insipid; tasteless,” has Taoist connotations of purity.]

Topics Biǎo Jì FRIENDSHIP GENTLEMEN SELF-INTEREST Shān Mù Shǐ Jì Zhuāngzǐ