Synonym of Each other in Chinese

Posted on by tiffany

對方 · 互相 · 彼此 — 近義詞辨析
Similar words

对方 duìfāng · 互相 hùxiāng · 彼此 bǐcǐ

Three words that come up whenever “each other” is on the tip of your tongue — but only two of them actually mean that.

Actually, 对方 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, it’s worth clarifying all three together.

一

对方 duìfāng

Noun · The Other Person / Side

对方 duìfāng is a noun that specifically refers to “the other party” or “the other side,” used when talking about someone other than the speaker — not a mutual action between two people.

Subject + Verb + 对方duìfāng / 对方duìfāng + Verb
我wǒ很hěn喜欢xǐhuan对方duìfāng的de个性gèxìng。
I like the other person’s personality.
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?
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.
二

互相 hùxiāng

Adverb · Mutual Action

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

Subject + 互相hùxiāng + Verb Phrase
他们tāmen互相hùxiāng帮助bāngzhù。
They help each other.
我们wǒmen要yào互相hùxiāng尊重zūnzhòng。
We should respect one another.
我们wǒmen互相hùxiāng帮bāng对方duìfāng很多hěn duō忙máng。
We’ve helped each other a lot.
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讨厌tǎoyàn，合不来hébulái。
We truly dislike each other and can’t get along.
三

彼此 bǐcǐ

Pronoun / Adverb · Reciprocity

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

Subject + 彼此bǐcǐ + Verb / 彼此bǐcǐ + 的 + Noun
我们wǒmen彼此bǐcǐ信任xìnrèn。
We trust each other.
他们tāmen了解liǎojiě彼此bǐcǐ。
They understand each other.
彼此bǐcǐ的de需求xūqiú都dōu很hěn重要zhòngyào。
Both of our needs are important.
这件zhè jiàn事shì我们wǒmen彼此bǐcǐ都dōu有yǒu错cuò。
We both made mistakes in this situation.
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.
04  ·  Watch Out

Common Pitfalls

互相 hùxiāng — needs a verb after it, can’t stand alone
✕我们wǒmen喜欢xǐhuan互相hùxiāng
✓我们wǒmen喜欢xǐhuan互相hùxiāng帮助bāngzhù

互相 hùxiāng is an adverb — it always needs a verb after it to say what the mutual action actually is.

互相 hùxiāng — doesn’t fit verbs that aren’t done to each other
✕我们wǒmen互相hùxiāng喜欢xǐhuan狗gǒu
✓我们wǒmen互相hùxiāng喜欢xǐhuan对方duìfāng的de狗gǒu

“We both like dogs” isn’t something the two people do to or for each other, so 互相 hùxiāng doesn’t fit as-is. Unless you mean liking each other’s dogs specifically — then adding 对方的 makes it work.

05  ·  At a Glance

Quick Comparison

WordPart of SpeechCore MeaningTypical Structure
对方duìfāng Noun the other person / side (not truly “each other”) Verb + 對方 / 對方 + Verb
互相hùxiāng Adverb mutual action — needs a verb right after it Subject + 互相 + Verb Phrase
彼此bǐcǐ Pronoun / Adverb reciprocity, both sides together Subject + 彼此 + Verb / 彼此 + 的 + Noun
06  ·  Practice

Practice Quiz

PRACTICE QUIZ Question 1 of 10
He never thinks about the other person’s feelings.
他tā从来cónglái不bù考虑kǎolǜ    的de感受gǎnshòu。
The two countries should respect each other’s culture.
两liǎng国guó应该yīnggāi    尊重zūnzhòng对方duìfāng的de文化wénhuà。
After so many years, they still understand each other very well.
这么zhème多duō年nián了le，他们tāmen还是háishì很hěn了解liǎojiě    。
The company asked both sides to communicate with each other.
公司gōngsī要求yāoqiú双方shuāngfāng    沟通gōutōng。
I don’t know what the other person is thinking.
我wǒ不bù知道zhīdào    在zài想xiǎng什么shénme。
The two teams competed fiercely with each other.
两liǎng队duì    竞争jìngzhēng得de很hěn激烈jīliè。
Our friendship is built on trust in each other.
我们wǒmen的de友情yǒuqíng建立jiànlì在zài    的de信任xìnrèn上shàng。
Before signing, please listen carefully to what the other side says.
签约qiānyuē前qián，请qǐng仔细zǐxì听tīng    说shuō的de话huà。
No matter what happens, this couple always support each other.
不管bùguǎn发生fāshēng什么shénme事shì，这对zhè duì夫妻fūqī总是zǒngshì    支持zhīchí。
We should cherish each other while we still have the chance.
我们wǒmen应该yīnggāi趁chèn还hái有yǒu机会jīhuì的de时候shíhou珍惜zhēnxī    。
Complete
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