君子の交わりは淡きこと水の如し

Japanese

Kanji in this term
君	子	交	淡	水	如
くん Grade: 3	し Grade: 1	まじ Grade: 2	あわ Grade: S	みず Grade: 1	ごと Grade: S
on’yomi		kun’yomi

Etymology

Calque of Literary Chinese 君子之交淡如水 (jūnzǐ zhī jiāo dàn rú shuǐ) from Zhuangzi:

君子之交淡如水，小人之交甘若醴。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

Jūnzǐzhījiāodànrúshuǐ, xiǎorénzhījiāogānruòlǐ. [Pinyin]

The friendship between men of virtue is clear like water (of no flavor, but free of harmful substances -- i.e. self-interest). The friendship between lesser men is sweet like wine (lacking true substance).

Can be analyzed as follow: 君子 (“man of virtue”) +‎ の (の) +‎ 交わり (“friendship”) +‎ は (は) +‎ 淡き (“flavorless”) +‎ こと +‎ 水 (“water”) +‎ の +‎ 如し (“like”).

Proverb

君(くん)子(し)の交(まじ)わりは淡(あわ)きこと水(みず)の如(ごと)し • (kunshi no majiwari wa awaki koto mizu no gotoshi) 

1. true friendship between two people of accomplishment needs not be overly demonstrative