Chinese Grammar Bank

HOW TO USE 互相

In Chinese, 互相 (hùxiāng) is commonly used to express reciprocal actions.

We often translate it as “each other” in English, but it means “mutual” or “mutually.”

BASIC USAGE

互相 is usually placed before verbs to indicate that two or more people or things are performing an action toward one another.

PATTERN

Subject + 互相 + Verb + (Object)

他们互相帮助。Tāmen hùxiāng bāngzhù.They help each other.
我们互相理解。Wǒmen hùxiāng lǐjiě.We understand each other.
他们互相支持。Tāmen hùxiāng zhīchí.They support each other.

WITH COMPLEX VERBS & PHRASES

In more complex sentences, 互相 (hùxiāng) and the verb can also be followed by more specific actions or goals to convey a deeper meaning.

PATTERN

Subject + 互相 + Verb + Additional Information

我们互相帮助完成任务。Wǒmen hùxiāng bāngzhù wánchéng rènwù.We help each other complete the task.
他们互相交换意见。Tāmen hùxiāng jiāohuàn yìjiàn.They exchange opinions with each other.
两队互相竞争,争取胜利。Liǎng duì hùxiāng jìngzhēng, zhēngqǔ shènglì.The two teams compete with each other for victory.

SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS

In Chinese, “互相” (hùxiāng), “互相…彼此” (hùxiāng…bǐcǐ), and “互相…对方” (hùxiāng…duìfāng) are all expressions used to describe reciprocal or mutual actions.

They all convey the idea of “each other”:

➡️ 互相…彼此: Adds emphasis on “each other” by using “彼此” (bǐcǐ), which directly means “each other” or “one another.” This adds a bit of formality or intensity to the expression.

➡️ 互相…对方: Uses “对方” (duìfāng), meaning “the other party” or “the other side,” to indicate a more specific, direct exchange between two parties. This construction can be slightly more formal.

These expressions are interchangeable in most cases and can be used to describe similar mutual actions.

互相 我们互相鼓励。 Wǒmen hùxiāng gǔlì.We encourage each other.
互相…彼此 我们互相鼓励彼此。 Wǒmen hùxiāng gǔlì bǐcǐ.We encourage each other.
互相…对方 我们互相鼓励对方。 Wǒmen hùxiāng gǔlì duìfāng.We encourage each other.

Summary:

➡️ 互相… is the simplest, most flexible way to express “each other.”
➡️ 互相…彼此 adds a bit of emphasis on the mutual relationship.
➡️ 互相…对方 is slightly more formal and directly specifies “the other party.”

互相 VS 相互

In Chinese, both 互相 (hùxiāng) and 相互 (xiānghù) mean “each other” and are often used interchangeably. However, there are subtle differences in their usage and nuance, as outlined below:

1. Nuance and Formality

➡️ 互相 (hùxiāng): More commonly used in everyday, informal language. It tends to focus on actions done mutually between people, making it suitable for casual conversations.

➡️ 相互 (xiānghù): Considered more formal and often used in written or formal contexts. It can imply a slightly deeper, sometimes more abstract mutual relationship or influence.

2. Placement in Sentences

Both 互相 and 相互 are generally placed before verbs.

However, 相互 is sometimes placed directly before a noun phrase, especially in formal writing, while 互相 usually precedes a verb.

朋友们互相问候。Péngyǒumen hùxiāng wènhòu.Friends greet each other.
家人互相照顾。Jiārén hùxiāng zhàogù.Family members take care of each other.
学生们互相讨论问题。Xuéshēngmen hùxiāng tǎolùn wèntí.Students discuss questions with each other.
他们互相尊重。Tāmen hùxiāng zūnzhòng.They respect each other.
邻居们互相帮助。Línjūmen hùxiāng bāngzhù.Neighbors help each other.

Summary

➡️ 互相 (hùxiāng): More casual, suitable for everyday actions and conversations.

➡️ 相互 (xiānghù): More formal, often used in written or abstract expressions, indicating deeper or more formal mutuality.


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FAQs

What does 互相 mean in Chinese?

互相 means “mutually” or “each other” and is used to describe actions or feelings shared between two or more parties.

How do you use 互相 in a sentence?

互相 is placed before the verb, as in 我们应该互相帮助 (wǒmen yīnggāi hùxiāng bāngzhù), meaning “We should help each other.”

Can 互相 be used with all verbs?

互相 is typically used with verbs that involve reciprocal actions, such as 帮助 (help), 理解 (understand), or 喜欢 (like).

Is 互相 formal or informal?

互相 is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the situation.

What’s the difference between 互相 and 一起?

互相 emphasizes mutual or reciprocal actions, while 一起 (yìqǐ) means “together” and focuses on joint participation in an activity.

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