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来往 (lái wǎng) — to come and go (of traffic, people, etc.); to have dealings with; to be in contact with

Definition

来往 covers two senses: traffic/people coming and going, and people keeping in contact or having dealings. Compared with 打交道, 来往 is a verb for an ongoing relationship, while 打交道 focuses on individual interactions.

verb
to come and go (of traffic, people, etc.)to have dealings withto be in contact with

Examples

  • 来往。
    Zhè tiáo lù lái wǎng de chē liàng hěn duō.
    There is a lot of traffic coming and going on this road.
  • 来往。
    Tā men liǎng jiā yǐ jīng duō nián méi yǒu lái wǎng le.
    The two families have had no dealings with each other for many years.
  • ，来往。
    Zì cóng bān dào xīn chéng shì, wǒ men hé jiù lín jū jiù méi yǒu lái wǎng le.
    Since moving to a new city, we haven't been in contact with our old neighbors.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

来láicome
往wǎnggo

“来” and “往” give the opposite directions of coming and going, together meaning traffic or social dealings.

Characters in this word

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
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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Friends & Social

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