嚴寒時節的三位友人，具體指松、竹、梅三種植物。在中國傳統文化中，有些植物因其自然屬性而被賦予某種人文蘊涵。松、竹四季常青，歷冬不凋；梅花凌霜傲雪，美麗綻放。三者都不怕嚴寒，在嚴寒中展現自身的生命力和自然美，宛如在嚴寒中相伴生長的好友，故被世人合稱為“歲寒三友”。它常被用來喻指忠貞不渝的友誼，寄托對于孤傲高潔人格的崇尚和向往。

Three Friends of Winter

　　"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

　　到深秋之后，百花皆謝，惟有松竹梅花，歲寒三友。（無名氏《漁樵閑話》第四折）（到了深秋之后，各種花都凋謝了，只有松、竹、梅花依然生機盎然，在寒冷的季節相伴生長。）

　　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. (Casula Talk Between a Fisherman and a Woodcutter)