Comparing "bici" and "duifang"

彼此 (bǐcǐ) and 对方 (duìfāng) are both personal pronouns, and both can 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, but never 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. 彼此 feels a bit literary in style.

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.

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"

对方 can also mean "the other side," whereas 彼此 cannot.

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