伙伴

In Northern Wei, a 火 (huǒ) was a military unit with ten people (using the same kitchen stove). 火伴 (huǒbàn) means people in the same unit.

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伙伴

1. companion; mate; comrade; partner

   和某人結成伙伴／和某人结成伙伴  ―  hé mǒurén jiéchéng huǒbàn  ―  to forge a partnership with someone

   • 出門看伙伴，伙伴皆驚惶：「同行十二年，不知木蘭是女郎」。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     出门看伙伴，伙伴皆惊惶：“同行十二年，不知木兰是女郎”。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 《木蘭詩》; translation by Jack Yuan

     Chūmén kàn huǒbàn, huǒbàn jiē jīnghuáng: “Tóng xíng shí'èr nián, bùzhī Mùlán shì nǚláng”. [Pinyin]

     I step out to see my comrades-in-arms, they are all surprised and astounded: 'We travelled twelve years together, yet didn't realise Mulan was a lady!'"