Synonym of Each other in Chinese

Before we start, let’s have a small quiz. Do you know which one is incorrect?

A 我們wǒmen喜歡xǐhuān互相hùxiāng我们wǒmen喜欢xǐhuan互相hùxiāng

B 我wǒ喜歡xǐhuān彼此bǐcǐ的de個性gexìng我wǒ喜欢xǐhuan彼此bǐcǐ的de个性gexìng

C 你nǐ為wèi對方duìfāng做zuò了le什麼shénme你nǐ为wèi对方duìfāng做zuò了le什么shénme

對对方 duìfāng – the other person, the other side

📌 Actually, 對方 duìfāng doesn’t mean “each other” at all in English, but since so many students confuse it with 彼此 bǐcǐ  and 互相 hùxiāng, I decided to include it here for clarification. 

對对方 duìfāng is a noun that specifically refers to “the other party” or “the other side”, and it’s used when talking about someone other than the speaker.

我wǒ很hěn喜歡xǐhuān對方duìfāng的de個性gexìng我wǒ很hěn喜欢xǐhuan对方duìfāng的de个性gexìng
I like the other person’s personality.

他tā總是zǒngshì為wèi對方duìfāng著想zháoxiǎng他tā总是zǒngshì为wèi对方duìfāng着想zháoxiǎng
He always thinks of the other person.

我wǒ今天jīntiān去qù約會yuēhuì了le， 對方duìfāng穿chuān得de很hěn正式zhèngshì我wǒ今天jīntiān去qù约会yuēhuì了le， 对方duìfāng穿chuān得de很hěn正式zhèngshì
I went on a date today — the other person was dressed really formally.

你nǐ這樣zhèyàng說shuō， 對方duìfāng會huì怎麼zěnme想xiǎng你nǐ这样zhèyàng说shuō， 对方duìfāng会huì怎么zěnme想xiǎng
If you say it like that, what will the other person think?

對方duìfāng一定yídìng誤會wùhuì你nǐ的de意思yìsi了le对方duìfāng一定yídìng误会wùhuì你nǐ的de意思yìsi了le
The other person definitely got the wrong idea.

互相 hùxiāng – mutually, each other

互相 hùxiāng + V

It’s an adverb. It modifies actions that are mutual, emphasizing that both parties are doing something to or for each other.

他們tāmen互相hùxiāng幫助bāngzhù他们tāmen互相hùxiāng帮助bāngzhù
They help each other.

我們wǒmen要yào互相hùxiāng尊重zūnzhòng我们wǒmen要yào互相hùxiāng尊重zūnzhòng
We should respect one another.

我們wǒmen互相hùxiāng幫bāng對方duìfāng很hěn多duō忙máng我们wǒmen互相hùxiāng帮bāng对方duìfāng很hěn多duō忙máng
We’ve helped each other a lot.

結婚jiéhūn以後yǐhòu你們nǐmen要yào互相hùxiāng照顧zhàogù對方duìfāng结婚jiéhūn以后yǐhòu你们nǐmen要yào互相hùxiāng照顾zhàogù对方duìfāng
After getting married, you need to take care of each other.

我wǒ跟gēn他tā真的zhēnde是shì互相hùxiāng討厭tǎoyàn， 合不來hébùlái我wǒ跟gēn他tā真的zhēnde是shì互相hùxiāng讨厌tǎoyàn， 合不来hébulái
We truly dislike each other and can’t get along.

我們wǒmen互相hùxiāng喜歡xǐhuān狗gǒu我们wǒmen互相hùxiāng喜欢xǐhuan狗gǒu ❌
We both like dogs.
(This is not a situation where both parties are doing something to or for each other — it’s simply that we both like dogs. Unless you specifically mean we like each other’s dogs. 我們wǒmen互相hùxiāng喜歡xǐhuān對方duìfāng的de狗gǒu我们wǒmen互相hùxiāng喜欢xǐhuan对方duìfāng的de狗gǒuIn that case, then yes, 互相 hùxiāng would be appropriate.)

彼此 bǐcǐ – each other, both sides

彼此 bǐcǐ can be used as a pronoun or an adverb, and it emphasizes reciprocity. It usually refers to both sides together. It highlights mutual feelings or actions shared by the people involved.

我們wǒmen彼此bǐcǐ信任xìnrèn我们wǒmen彼此bǐcǐ信任xìnrèn
We trust each other.
(adverb)

他們tāmen了解lejiě彼此bǐcǐ他们tāmen了解lejiě彼此bǐcǐ
They understand each other.
(pronoun)

彼此bǐcǐ的de需求xūqiú都dōu很hěn重要zhòngyào彼此bǐcǐ的de需求xūqiú都dōu很hěn重要zhòngyào
Both of our needs are important.
(pronoun)

這zhè件jiàn事shì我們wǒmen彼此bǐcǐ都dōu有yǒu錯cuò这zhè件jiàn事shì我们wǒmen彼此bǐcǐ都dōu有yǒu错cuò
We both made mistakes in this situation.
(adverb)

讓ràng我們wǒmen放過fàngguò彼此bǐcǐ吧ba！ 不要búyào再zài見面jiànmiàn了le让ràng我们wǒmen放过fàngguò彼此bǐcǐ吧ba！ 不要búyào再zài见面jiànmiàn了le
Let’s just let each other go. We shouldn’t see each other again.

Practice