A Chinese quote for a faraway friend
What Chinese poem can I send to a friend who is far away?
A source-linked answer
海内存知己，天涯若比邻。
A plain-English sense
With a true friend within the world, even the edge of heaven feels like a neighboring door.
What the line means
The poem compresses geography. Understanding and friendship do not erase distance, but they can change how distance is felt.
Where it comes from
Wang Bo wrote the poem as a farewell. The couplet is hopeful without pretending parting is easy, which makes it suitable for departures and long-distance friendship.
Read the source text for Wang Bo · Farewell to Du, Taking Office in Shuzhou →
When this saying fits
- A friend is moving to another country.
- You want to accompany a farewell message with a classical line.
- A long-distance friendship has remained close.
Try it with an everyday sentence
These are examples of the kind of modern thought that can lead toward this older image:
- “We live far apart, but our conversations still feel close.”
- “I am sorry to see you leave, and I want this friendship to continue.”
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Related Chinese sayings
The English wording explains a cultural image rather than replacing the source text. Source and page reviewed 23 September 2026.