Expressing "each other" with "huxiang"

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 bāngzhù Help each other
• 互相 了解 hùxiāng liǎojiě Know each other
• 互相 伤害 hùxiāng shānghài Hurt each other
• 互相 尊重 hùxiāng zūnzhòng Respect each other
• 互相 支持 hùxiāng zhīchí Support each other
• 互相 鼓励 hùxiāng gǔlì Encourage each other
• 互相 影响 hùxiāng yǐngxiǎng Influence each other
• 互相 利用 hùxiāng lìyòng Take advantage of 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 看 hùxiāng kàn look at each other
• 互相 看 了 一 眼 hùxiāng kàn le yī yǎn glanced 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 yōngbào hug each other
• 互相 交流 hùxiāng jiāoliú communicate with each other