第九次课后作业

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Three Layers of Friends

By Yonghu Cui

People define “friend” in different ways, so they may also classify friends from different angles. One practical way is to classify friends by social distance—that is, how close we feel to them in terms of interaction and trust. From this perspective, friends can be divided into three layers: close friends, activity partners, and acquaintances.

The first layer consists of close friends. This group includes close family members and a few best friends. We communicate frequently and share personal matters with them. Because the ties are tight, misunderstandings and conflicts may happen from time to time. When they do, we are usually willing to talk things through and compromise because the relationship matters. Maintaining this layer costs time and energy, so it usually remains small—often fewer than ten people.

The second layer is activity partners (dazi, 搭子). These are people we spend time with mainly because we share an activity during a certain period of our lives. Typical examples include classmates, coworkers, gaming buddies, travel companions, and workout partners. We may meet often and have fun together, but the relationship usually depends on the activity. When the shared activity ends, many of these connections become less frequent and gradually turn into acquaintances. Still, a few grow into close friends.

The outer layer is acquaintances. We know each other, but we rarely share private matters or rely on each other for major support. For example, we may greet a shop clerk we visit regularly or chat with the barber we go to every month. We may even do small favors for each other, but we tend to keep the relationship light.

In short, different layers serve different needs. Friendship can build trust and mutual support, and the level of trust usually depends on social distance (the closer, the stronger). Understanding these layers helps us invest our limited time and energy wisely.

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Sentence Outline

Thesis Statement:
Friends can be divided into three layers based on social distance: close friends, activity partners, and acquaintances.

Introduction:
People define “friend” in different ways. One practical way is to classify friends by social distance.

Body

A: The first layer consists of close friends, including close family members and a few best friends.

B: The second layer consists of activity partners (dazi, 搭子), with whom we share an activity during a certain period of our lives.

C: The outer layer consists of acquaintances, with whom we rarely share private matters or rely on for major support.

Conclusion:
Classifying friends by social distance helps us invest our limited time and energy wisely.