Comparing "bici" and "duifang"

彼此 (bǐcǐ) and 对方 (duìfāng) are both personal pronouns, and both can sometimes be translated as "each other" in English. 对方 (duìfāng), however, points to the "opposite" or "other" side. 彼此 (bǐcǐ), however, stresses "between" or "among each other".

彼此 (bǐcǐ) can be used after personal pronouns like 你们, 我们, and 大家. 对方 (duìfāng) cannot be used in this way.

Used before a Verb

Before a verb, you can use 彼此 to mean "each other," but not 对方. This is similar to using 互相 (hùxiàng) before a verb.

Structure

彼此 + Verb

Examples

• 你们 这样 做 其实 是 彼此 伤害。Nǐmen zhèyàng zuò qíshí shì bǐcǐ shānghài.You both did this to hurt each other.
• 结婚 以前 夫妻 应该 多 花 时间 彼此 了解。Jiéhūn yǐqián fūqī yīnggāi duō huā shíjiān bǐcǐ liǎojiě.Before they get married, the bride and groom should spend more time getting to know each other.
• 我们 是 一 个 部门 的，工作 上 要 彼此 配合。Wǒmen shì yī gè bùmén de, gōngzuò shàng yào bǐcǐ pèihé.We are from the same department. We should cooperate with each other in our work.
• 如果 你们 不 能 彼此 信任，这 次 合作 不 太 可能 成功。Rúguǒ nǐmen bù néng bǐcǐ xìnrèn, zhè cì hézuò bù tài kěnéng chénggōng.If you can't trust each other, this partnership probably won't succeed.

Used after a Verb

Both can be used as an object after a verb. The verbs are usually two-syllable ones. 对方 usually refers to "the other side," except when addressing multiple people at once. When addressing several people, 对方 is often translated into English as "each other." 彼此 feels a bit literary in style than 对方.

Structure

Verb + 彼此 / 对方

Examples

• 他们 可以 照顾 彼此，你 不 要 担心。 Tāmen kěyǐ zhàogu bǐcǐ, nǐ bù yào dānxīn.They can take care of each other, you don't have to worry.
• 你们 两 个 应该 原谅 对方。 Nǐmen liǎng gè yīnggāi yuánliàng duìfāng.You two should forgive each other.
• 你 觉得 我们 能 信任 彼此 吗？ Nǐ juéde wǒmen néng xìnrèn bǐcǐ ma?Do you think we can trust each other?
• 丽丽 和 小明 一点也不 尊重 对方，所以 他们 经常 吵架。 Lìlì hé Xiǎo míng yīdiǎn yě bù zūnzhòng duìfāng, suǒyǐ tāmen jīngcháng chǎojià.Lili and Xiao Ming did not respect each other at all, so they fought a lot.

Used before a Noun

Both can be placed before a noun, as attributive modifiers. Again, 对方 normally refers to "the other side's," but when addressing several people, 对方 is often translated into English as "each other's."

Structure

彼此 / 对方 + 的 + Noun

Examples

• 你们 应该 多 关注 彼此 的 优点。Nǐmen yīnggāi duō guānzhù bǐcǐ de yōudiǎn.You should both pay more attention to each other's strengths.
• 他们 都 讨厌 对方 的 亲戚。Tāmen dōu tǎoyàn duìfāng de qīnqi.They both hate each other's relatives.
• 他 跟 人 说话 的时候 常常 忽视 对方 的 感受。Tā gēn rén shuōhuà de shíhòu chángcháng hūshì duìfāng de gǎnshòu.He often ignores others' feelings when he talks to people.

对方 used as "the other side"

对方 can also mean "the other side," whereas 彼此 cannot. This one is straightforward.

Structure

对方 + Predicate

Examples

• 我 道歉 了 ，但是 对方 不 接受。Wǒ dàoqiàn le, dànshì duìfāng bù jiēshòu.I apologized to him, but he didn't accept it.
• 我 问 了 人家 ，但是 对方 不 同意 。Wǒ wèn le rénjiā, dànshì duìfāng bù tóngyì.I asked, but they didn't agree.
• 你 那样 说 会 让 对方 很 不 舒服 的 。Nǐ nàyàng shuō huì ràng duìfāng hěn bù shūfu de.Talking like that is going to make them very uncomfortable.
• 跟 朋友 吵架 的时候 ，我们 都 希望 对方 能 先 道歉 。Gēn péngyou chǎojià de shíhou, wǒmen dōu xīwàng duìfāng néng xiān dàoqiàn.When we have an argument with a friend, we all hope the other side will apologize first.

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK6