Listen to this articlesuìhán-sānyǒu 岁寒三友
Three Friends of Winter / Steadfast, Loyal Friends
严寒时节的三位友人，具体指松、竹、梅三种植物。在中国传统文化中，有些植物因其自然属性而被赋予某种人文蕴涵。松、竹四季常青，历冬不凋；梅花凌霜傲雪，美丽绽放。三者都不怕严寒，在严寒中展现自身的生命力和自然美，宛如在严寒中相伴生长的好友，故被世人合称为“岁寒三友”。它常被用来喻指忠贞不渝的友谊，寄托对于孤傲高洁人格的崇尚和向往。
“Three friends of winter” refer to the pine, bamboo and plum. In traditional culture, certain human characteristics are attributed to plants and animals based on their natural qualities. The pine and bamboo remain green all year round even in the coldest season, and the plum blooms in early spring when snow and frost are still frequent. These three plants are cold resistant and retain their beauty even in harsh weather, just like good friends keep each other’s company during an icy winter. This term is often used to refer to loyal and steadfast friendship, and also represent the fine qualities of high-mindedness and detachment.
引例 Citations：
◎岁寒，然后知松柏之后凋也。（《论语·子罕》）
（每年到了天气最寒冷的时节，才知道松树与柏树是最后凋谢的。）
In the deadliest cold season, the pine and cedar are always the last to wither. (The Analects)
◎到深秋之后，百花皆谢，惟有松竹梅花，岁寒三友。（无名氏《渔樵闲话》第四折）
（到了深秋之后，各种花都凋谢了，只有松、竹、梅花依然生机盎然，是岁寒三友。）
By late autumn, all the other flowers have withered. Only the pine, bamboo and plum remain vibrant, thus described as three steadfast friends in the cold. (Casual Talk Between a Fisherman and a Woodcutter)
