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彼此 (bǐ cǐ) — each other; one another

Definition

彼此 (bǐcǐ) is a formal pronoun used as a subject or after 的/之间 — 'each other, one another' as a noun phrase. 互相 is the everyday adverb placed before a verb; 各自 stresses 'each on their own', not mutuality.

pronoun
each otherone another

Examples

  • 彼此，。
    Tā men bǐ cǐ hù xiāng bāng zhù, yì qǐ jìn bù.
    They help each other and progress together.
  • 彼此。
    Wǒ men bǐ cǐ zhī jiān bù xū yào shuō xiè xie.
    Between us, there's no need to say thank you.
  • 彼此。
    Tā men bǐ cǐ de gǎn qíng hěn hǎo.
    Their feelings for each other are very good.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

彼bǐthat or the other side
此cǐthis or this side

彼 means that or the other side, 此 means this or this side; together they refer to both sides mutually.

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
彳彳chì
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí彼bǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 彳 points to the meaning, and the right part 皮 gives the sound.

Open 彼 →

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

此 shows 止 (feet) and 人 (person), drawing a person stopping, to mean 'this' or 'here.'

Open 此 →

Grammar

Appears in
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