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互相 (hù xiāng) — each other; mutually

Definition

Used before a verb to mean 'each other' or 'mutually' — more everyday than 相互 (which is also an adverb but slightly more formal/written), and unlike the pronoun 彼此 it doesn't stand alone as a subject.

adverb
each othermutually

Examples

  • 互相。
    Wǒ men yīng gāi hù xiāng bāng zhù.
    We should help each other.
  • 互相？
    Tā men hù xiāng liǎo jiě ma?
    Do they understand each other?
  • 互相。
    Tóng xué men hù xiāng xué xí.
    The classmates learn from each other.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

互hùmutually
相xiāngeach other

'互' and '相' both mean each other, so together they express mutual action.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The form 互 is a tooth shape with a distinguishing mark added.

Open 互 →

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 →

Grammar

Appears in
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