Comparing "bici" and "duifang"

彼此(bǐcǐ) and 对方(duìfāng) are both personal pronouns. 对方(duìfāng) points towards the opposite or "other" side.

词性相同：彼此(bǐcǐ)和对方(duìfāng)都是人称代词。对方(duìfāng)指的是与行为主体相对的一方，也可以说“另一方”。

彼此(bǐcǐ), however, stresses "between" or "among each other".

彼此(bǐcǐ)强调"互相之间"。

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

彼此(bǐcǐ)可以放在人称代词“你们、我们、大家”后使用，对方(duìfāng)不能这样用。

Used before a Verb

If placed before a verb, only use "彼此", not"对方". It's similar to using 互相 (hùxiàng) before a verb.

动词前，只能用"彼此"，不能用"对方".

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 the object after the verb. Verbs are usually disyllabic. "Everyone" is written in color.

二者都可以用于动词后，做宾语。动词通常是双音节。"彼此"偏书面色彩。

Structure

Verb + 彼此 / 对方

Examples

• 照顾 彼此。Zhàogù bǐcǐ.To look after each other.
• 原谅 对方。Yuánliàng duìfāngTo forgive each other.
• 信任 彼此。Xìnrèn bǐcǐ.To trust each other.
• 尊重 对方。Zūnzhòng duìfāng.To respect each other.

Used before a Noun

Both can be placed before a noun, as attributive modifiers.

二者都可以放在名词前，做定语。

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 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"

Structure

对方 + Predicate

Examples

• 我 道歉 了 ，但是 对方 不 接受。Wǒ dàoqiànle, dànshì duìfāng bù jiēshòu.I apologized to him, but he didn't accepted it.
• 我 问 了 人家 ，但是 对方 不 同意 。I asked, but they didn't agree.
• 你 那样 说 会 让 对方 很 不 舒服 的 。Wǒ wènle rénjiā, dànshì duìfāng bù tóngyì.It would make them very uncomfortable for you to speak like that.
• 跟 朋友 吵架 的时候 ，我们 都 希望 对方 能 先 道歉 。Nǐ nàyàng shuō huì ràng duìfāng hěn bú shūfú de.We all expect the other side to apologize first when we have a fight with friends.

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5