有来有往 (yǒu lái yǒu wǎng) — reciprocal, give-and-take (of exchanges, favors, or gifts)

Definition

A set phrase describing a reciprocal relationship where both sides give and receive — favors, gifts, help. Highlights balanced exchange, not one-way giving.

idiom
reciprocalgive-and-take (of exchanges, favors, or gifts)

Examples

  • 有来有往，。
    Péng you zhī jiān yīng gāi yǒu lái yǒu wǎng, hù xiāng bāng zhù.
    Between friends, there should be reciprocity — helping each other.
  • 有来有往，。
    Sòng lǐ yào yǒu lái yǒu wǎng, bù néng zhī shōu bú sòng.
    Gift-giving should be reciprocal; you can't just receive without giving.
  • 有来有往，。
    Tā men liǎng jiā yǒu lái yǒu wǎng, guān xì yì zhí hěn hǎo.
    The two families have a give-and-take relationship and have always gotten along well.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

有来have coming
有yǒuhave来láicome
动宾Verb + object
有往have going
有yǒuhave往wǎnggo
动宾Verb + object

有来 and 有往 mirror each other, expressing reciprocal give-and-take.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
王
王wáng往wǎng
Same sound today

The form that became 往 paired 止, a foot, with 王 for the sound; a stepping part was later added, and the right side changed.

Open 往 →

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