‘联谊’ (lián yì) is a noun meaning a social event or activity designed to foster friendship, mutual understanding, and connection—typically between two or more groups, such as schools, companies, or communities. The first character 联 (lián) means ‘to connect’ or ‘to join,’ while 谊 (yì) means ‘friendship’ or ‘close relationship.’ Together, they literally convey ‘connecting through friendship.’

This word is commonly used in formal or semi-formal contexts: school exchange programs, corporate team-building events, alumni gatherings, or cross-regional cultural activities. It emphasizes mutual goodwill and long-term relationship building—not just casual mingling. While it can refer to the event itself (e.g., ‘a联谊活动’), it’s rarely used as a verb; instead, people say ‘举办联谊’ (hold a fraternization event) or ‘参加联谊’ (attend one). It carries a warm, cooperative, and purposeful tone, distinct from informal terms like ‘聚会’ (party) or ‘聊天’ (chatting).