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相辅相成 (xiāng fǔ xiāng chéng) — to complement each other; to be mutually complementary and reinforcing

Definition

Idiom for two things that complement and reinforce each other. 互补 is a plain verb for the same idea; 相辅相成 is a four-character set phrase that sounds more formal and literary.

phrase
to complement each otherto be mutually complementary and reinforcing

Examples

  • 相辅相成，。
    Jīng jì fā zhǎn hé huán jìng bǎo hù xiāng fǔ xiāng chéng, quē yī bù kě.
    Economic development and environmental protection complement each other—neither can be absent.
  • 相辅相成，。
    Zhè liǎng fèn zī liào de nèi róng xiāng fǔ xiāng chéng, kě yǐ fàng zài yì qǐ yán jiū.
    The content of these two documents complements each other; we can study them together.
  • ，相辅相成，。
    Tuán duì zhōng de měi gè rén dōu yǒu zì jǐ de yōu diǎn, dà jiā xiāng fǔ xiāng chéng, cái néng qǔ dé zuì hǎo de chéng jì.
    Everyone on the team has their own strengths; they complement each other so they can achieve the best results.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

相辅mutually assist
相xiāngmutually辅fǔassist
偏正Modifier + head
相成mutually complete
相xiāngmutually成chéngcomplete
偏正Modifier + head

相辅相成 joins 相辅, meaning mutually assist, and 相成, meaning mutually complete, to express complementarity.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 輔; 辅 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jū
Sound part声符shēngfú
甫
甫fǔ輔fǔ
Same sound today

The traditional form 輔 pairs 車 (cart) with 甫 as a sound part; the simplified 辅 is a later abbreviation.

Open 辅 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

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
戊戊wù
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng成chéng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Open 成 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6

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