Symbols of Friendship and Their Meanings

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Friends, just like family, have a significant impact on one’s health and well-being. Friends boost one’s sense of belongingness. They keep one from feeling isolated and lonely.

In short, friends make the world a better place. So it is only fitting that symbols exist to represent friendship.

Let’s take a look at some symbols of friendship and their meanings.

Symbols Of Friendship And Their Meanings

1. Pikorua

The Maori symbol called pikorua is reminiscent of two intertwined ferns from New Zealand.

From the Maori words “pikopiko,” a pale green new-growth fern frond found in the damp and shady woods of New Zealand, and “rua” which means “number two,” pikorua is the Maori twist symbol that denotes infinite partnership. 

Inspired by the symbols of growth and life, the pikorua symbol stands for the strength and beauty of enduring friendship and intertwined lives.

It is also described as “two-person friendship” and “the path of love and life,” showing how friends sometimes go on separate ways in life but always come back as one because of the strong connection.

2. Ese Ne Tekrema

This Adinkra symbol of friendship is represented by teeth and a tongue since “Ese Ne Tekrema” literally means “the teeth and the tongue.” It originated in West Africa, particularly among the Akan people in Ghana.

The symbol shows that the teeth and the tongue have different but interdependent roles in the mouth, that’s why Ese Ne Tekrema also symbolizes interdependence. They are symbolic of growth, improvement, and advancement as well.

The teeth and the tongue exist together and although they can come into conflict, they still work together. In this sense, Ese Ne Tekrema symbolizes cooperation.

3. Interlocking Hearts 

The interlocking hearts symbol is a very well-known symbol of love, often denoting affection and romantic union. However, it is also used to represent friendship, signifying that when friends are not together, they still bear a piece of one another’s hearts with them. 

Also called “double hearts” and “intertwined hearts,” the interlocking hearts symbol signifies togetherness and unity as well. 

This particular symbol is seen in many variations. It is more popularly used in jewelry, but it can be drawn or worn as tattoos as well.

4. Yǒuyì

The yǒuyì symbol is made up of the Chinese characters 有意, which means “friendship.” This is a common symbol for friendship among the Chinese.

The yǒuyì symbol is popularly used in body art. People usually have these Chinese characters tattooed with their best friend’s name. 

It is also engraved in jewelry pieces given as gifts to friends, which they always wear or carry around with them.

5. Infinity

The symbol of infinity is a geometric curve with a continuous line, denoting the non-existence of the beginning and the end. The figure resembles the number 8 on its side.

The infinity symbol represents the concept of limitlessness or eternity. As a symbol of friendship, the absence of the beginning and the end establishes the connection of eternity between the love of friends.

In algebraic geometry, the infinity symbol is sometimes called the “lemniscate.” This symbol has been around for hundreds of years, having been documented since the Ancient Greek mathematicians and philosophers. However, the symbol that we now know was first used in 1655 by the English priest and mathematician John Wallis. 

A similar figure also appears in early Christian iconography. Among the Ancient Romans, this symbol that resembled the figure was used in signifying “many.” 

The meaning of the infinity symbol has since evolved beyond the realm of mathematics, becoming adapted as an expression of endless love and – for some – as a symbol of individual empowerment, thanks to the concept of being eternal, therefore, unbreakable.

The infinity symbol is now being used in fashion and accessories, most commonly in the form of jewelry and tattoos. 

6. Qīnyǒu / Shin’yū

Another Chinese symbol for friendship, qīnyǒu is written as亲友. It is translated as “friends and relatives.” The symbol is also called shin’yū in Japan, which means “best friend” or “bosom buddy.”

Just like the yǒuyì symbol,  qīnyǒu or shin’yū is used in tattoos and jewelry to denote friendship. Some people also have their best friend’s name tattooed with this symbol for a more personal touch, or engraved in jewelry pieces to be worn or carried around with them consistently.

7. Rakhi Bracelet

Rakhi, short for “Raksha Bandhan,” is the Hindu and Sikh festival that celebrates brotherhood and love. The festival takes place on the full moon in the lunar month of Shavran Purnima – from the last week of July until the last week of August. 

The Sanskrit word “Raksha” is translated as “protection,” while “Bandhan” is the Sanskrit for “to  tie.” 

The Rakhi bracelet is made of intertwined red and gold threads, traditionally tied by a sister around  her brother’s wrist during the Rakshi Bandhan festival. However, this is not limited to siblings today. The Rakhi bracelet has come to symbolize friendship and is shared between close friends.

Rakhis are also now being used on soldiers, congregation members, and even India’s prime minister.

Rakhi, essentially, is a thread tie which means “knot of protection.” As a symbol of friendship, Rakhi bracelets are tied on the wrists of close friends. This is done to encourage commitment to each other, as well as foster unity and social harmony.

8. Crossed Arrows / Arrows of Friendship

Most arrow symbols came from the Native American culture. Arrows were important to the Native American people because they signified protection for their family and home. They also used bows and arrows for hunting and as a weapon in war.

There are many different arrow symbols with different meanings. The crossed arrows symbol, also called the “arrows of friendship,” stands for truce and friendship or alliance.

This symbol consists of two arrows crossing at the center. In Native American culture, it represents the unity or bond between two clans or two people. This symbol was used by the Native Americans as a sign of friendship and a signal of the end of hostilities.