互相 (hùxiāng)

互相 is an adverb indicating that an action is reciprocal — each party both performs and receives the action in relation to the other.

Meanings

[adverb] Mutually, each other, one another (indicating a reciprocal relationship).

Example Sentences

两国之间需要互相尊重，才能建立起长久稳定的合作关系。 Liǎng guó zhī jiān xūyào hùxiāng zūnzhòng, cái néng jiànlì qǐ chángjiǔ wěndìng de hézuò guānxi. The two countries need to respect each other before they can establish a long-term, stable cooperative relationship.

团队成员之间互相支持、互相鼓励，是取得成功的重要因素。 Tuánduì chéngyuán zhī jiān hùxiāng zhīchí, hùxiāng gǔlì, shì qǔdé chénggōng de zhòngyào yīnsù. Team members supporting and encouraging each other is an important factor in achieving success.

在陌生的城市里，互相帮助的旅行者往往能结下深厚的友谊。 Zài mòshēng de chéngshì lǐ, hùxiāng bāngzhù de lǚxíngzhě wǎngwǎng néng jié xià shēnhòu de yǒuyì. Travelers who help one another in unfamiliar cities often form deep friendships.

我们虽然意见不同，但仍然可以互相理解，寻找共同点。 Wǒmen suīrán yìjiàn bùtóng, dàn réngrán kěyǐ hùxiāng lǐjiě, xúnzhǎo gòngtóngdiǎn. Although we have different opinions, we can still understand each other and find common ground.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
互相尊重	to respect each other
互相帮助	to help each other
互相理解	to understand each other
互相学习	to learn from each other
互相依赖	to depend on each other

Usage Notes

互相 always modifies a verb and requires a plural or bilateral subject — you cannot say 我互相帮助 (I mutually help) because one person cannot be mutual. It is often used in pairs for emphasis: 互相帮助、互相鼓励. Compare with 彼此 (bǐcǐ — each other), which is slightly more literary and can also function as a pronoun (我们彼此了解 — we understand each other).

Memory Hook

互 depicts two interlocked hands, and 相 means "facing/toward each other" — two parties facing each other with interlocked action is the very picture of reciprocity.