Difference between revisions of "Expressing "each other" with "huxiang""

 
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[[Category:**URGENT**]]
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When some action is mutual, you can use the word 互相 (hùxiāng). The word "mutual" feels formal in English, but in Chinese, even everyday phrases such as "learn from each other" use the word 互相, which expresses this "each other" aspect.
  
动词要是双音节的。不能说“互相看、互相爱“等。如果动词本身就具有相互性,如”拥抱、亲吻、喜欢”,用互相来修饰会有点奇怪,但口语里还是会有人这么说。
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== Structure ==
  
=== Structure ===
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Usually 互相 (hùxiāng) is used with two-syllable words, and for one-syllable words, some other information will be added after the verb to make it sound more natural (see below for examples of this.)
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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互相 + Verb
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</div>
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== Examples ==
  
互相 + Verb
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<div class="liju">
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*<em>互相</em> 帮助 <span class="pinyin"><em>hùxiāng</em> bāngzhù</span><span class="trans">Help each other</span>
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*<em>互相</em> 了解 <span class="pinyin"><em>hùxiāng</em> liǎojiě</span><span class="trans">Know each other</span>
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*<em>互相</em> 伤害 <span class="pinyin"><em>hùxiāng</em> shānghài</span><span class="trans">Hurt each other</span>
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*<em>互相</em> 尊重 <span class="pinyin"><em>hùxiāng</em> zūnzhòng</span><span class="trans">Respect each other</span>
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*<em>互相</em> 支持 <span class="pinyin"><em>hùxiāng</em> zhīchí</span><span class="trans">Support each other</span>
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*<em>互相</em> 鼓励 <span class="pinyin"><em>hùxiāng</em> gǔlì</span><span class="trans">Encourage each other</span>
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*<em>互相</em> 影响 <span class="pinyin"><em>hùxiāng</em> yǐngxiǎng</span><span class="trans">Influence each other</span>
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*<em>互相</em> 利用 <span class="pinyin"><em>hùxiāng</em> lìyòng</span><span class="trans">Use each other</span>
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</div>
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Don't use 互相 (hùxiāng) with single-syllable verbs. If you really have to use 互相, you can make the verb longer by adding extra information after it.
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<div class="liju">
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<ul>
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<li class="x"><em>互相</em> 看<span class="pinyin"><em>hùxiāng</em> kàn</span><span class="trans">look at each other</span></li>
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<li class="o"><em>互相</em> 看 了 一 眼<span class="pinyin"><em>hùxiāng</em> kàn le yī yǎn</span><span class="trans">glanced at each other</span></li>
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</ul>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Examples ===
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Note that for some verbs which are inherently "mutual," the use of 互相 (hùxiāng) is redundant and unnecessary. So the following phrases are not ''wrong'', but a little strange.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*<em>互相</em> 帮助 <span class="trans">Help each other</span>
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<ul>
*<em>互相</em> 了解 <span class="trans">Know each other</span>
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<li class="q"><em>互相</em> 拥抱<span class="pinyin"><em>hùxiāng</em> yōngbào</span><span class="trans">hug each other</span></li>
*<em>互相</em> 伤害 <span class="trans">Hurt each other</span>
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<li class="q"><em>互相</em> 交流<span class="pinyin"><em>hùxiāng</em> jiāoliú</span><span class="trans">communicate with each other</span></li>
*<em>互相</em> 尊重 <span class="trans">Respect each other</span>
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</ul>
*<em>互相</em> 支持 <span class="trans">Support each other</span>
 
*<em>互相</em> 鼓励 <span class="trans">Encourage each other</span>
 
*<em>互相</em> 影响 <span class="trans">Influence each other</span>
 
*<em>互相</em> 利用 <span class="trans">Take advantage of each other</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== See also ==
  
== See also==
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* [[Comparing "bici" and “duifang"]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 5上|68}}
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK5}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|互相|B1|互相 + Verb Phrase|<em>互相</em> 帮助|grammar point|ASGF00B7}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|互相|B1|互相 + Verb Phrase|<em>互相</em> 帮助|grammar point|ASGF00B7}}
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{{Similar|Comparing "bici" and "duifang"}}
 
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
 
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
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{{Translation|each other}}

Latest revision as of 09:21, 12 April 2019

When some action is mutual, you can use the word 互相 (hùxiāng). The word "mutual" feels formal in English, but in Chinese, even everyday phrases such as "learn from each other" use the word 互相, which expresses this "each other" aspect.

Structure

Usually 互相 (hùxiāng) is used with two-syllable words, and for one-syllable words, some other information will be added after the verb to make it sound more natural (see below for examples of this.)

互相 + Verb

Examples

  • 互相 帮助 hùxiāng bāngzhùHelp each other
  • 互相 了解 hùxiāng liǎojiěKnow each other
  • 互相 伤害 hùxiāng shānghàiHurt each other
  • 互相 尊重 hùxiāng zūnzhòngRespect each other
  • 互相 支持 hùxiāng zhīchíSupport each other
  • 互相 鼓励 hùxiāng gǔlìEncourage each other
  • 互相 影响 hùxiāng yǐngxiǎngInfluence each other
  • 互相 利用 hùxiāng lìyòngUse each other

Don't use 互相 (hùxiāng) with single-syllable verbs. If you really have to use 互相, you can make the verb longer by adding extra information after it.

  • 互相hùxiāng kànlook at each other
  • 互相 看 了 一 眼hùxiāng kàn le yī yǎnglanced at each other

Note that for some verbs which are inherently "mutual," the use of 互相 (hùxiāng) is redundant and unnecessary. So the following phrases are not wrong, but a little strange.

  • 互相 拥抱hùxiāng yōngbàohug each other
  • 互相 交流hùxiāng jiāoliúcommunicate with each other

See also

Sources and further reading

Books