相互作用 (xiāng hù zuò yòng) — (noun) interaction; mutual action between things; (verb phrase) to interact; to act on each other

Definition

An abstract, scientific term for 'interaction' or 'mutual action' between things, forces, or people. More formal and specialized than everyday 互动, which is reserved for people and social contexts.

noun
interactionmutual action between things
verb
(verb phrase) to interactto act on each other

Examples

  • 相互作用。
    Zhè liǎng zhǒng wù zhì zhī jiān cún zài zhe qiáng liè de xiāng hù zuò yòng.
    There is a strong interaction between these two substances.
  • 相互作用，。
    Zhè xiē yīn sù xiāng hù zuò yòng, gòng tóng yǐng xiǎng zuì zhōng jié guǒ.
    These factors interact and together influence the final outcome.
  • 相互作用。
    Rén yǔ rén zhī jiān de xiāng hù zuò yòng fēi cháng fù zá.
    The interactions between people are very complex.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

相互mutual
相xiāngmutual互hùmutual
联合Side by side
作用action/effect
作zuòdo用yònguse
联合Side by side

相互 means mutual, and 作用 means action or effect, so together they describe things acting on each other.

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 →

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 →

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
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
乍
乍zhà作zuò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 亻 comes from 人, meaning 'person', and the right side 乍 gives the sound.

Open 作 →

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

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →

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