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Referring to 'each other' with 相 (xiāng)
Actions & Events
Manner & Method
Structure
相 + Verb
Explanation
The adverb 相 (xiāng) means 'each other' or 'mutually.' It is placed before a verb to indicate that an action is reciprocal. For example, 相煎 means 'to boil each other' or 'to torment one another.' It is common in classical Chinese and remains in modern compounds like 互相 (mutually).
Examples
老朋友见面，相谈甚欢。
lǎo péngyǒu jiànmiàn, xiāngtán shèn huān.
When old friends meet, they chat with great delight.
他们虽然是对手，但平时也会互相帮助。
tāmen suīrán shì duìshǒu, dàn píngshí yě huì hùxiāng bāngzhù.
Although they are rivals, they usually help each other.
两国领导人相互交换了礼物。
liǎng guó lǐngdǎorén xiānghù jiāohuàn le lǐwù.
The leaders of the two countries exchanged gifts with each other.