Correct
互相 vs 相互
/ hùxiāng vs xiānghù /
Strokes
Definition
互相 is an Adverb and 相互 is an Adjective, which means [mutually; each other]; both words mean “two or more people or things treat each other in the same way”.
Example
互相 is an Adverb and can only function as an adverbial; 相互 is an Adjective and can function either as an adverbial or as an attributive. 相互 is more literary.
Example ① is a very colloquial sentence, so 互相 is used; example ② is more literary, and either word can be used.
1
Jiědì
姐弟
liǎ
俩
dōu
都
zài
在
zhènshàng
镇上
shàng
上
zhōngxué
中学
,
yīnggāi
应该
hùxiāng
互相
zhàogu
照顾
。
The sister and brother went to the middle school in the town and looked after each other.
2
Fūqī
夫妻
jiān
间
yīnggāi
应该
xiānghù
相互
(
hùxiāng
互相
)
tǐliàng
体谅
。
Husband and wife should be understanding mutually.
互相 is used as an attributive.
3
Qǐyè
企业
hé
和
gùkè
顾客
de
的
xiānghù
相互
guānxi
关系
,
yīnggāi
应该
shì
是
bǐcǐ
彼此
xìnlài
信赖
。
The relationship between the enterprise and its clients should be trusty.
4
Tōngguò
通过
shíyàn
实验
,
tóngxué
同学
men
们
jìnyībù
进一步
liǎojiě
了解
le
了
zhè
这
liǎng
两
zhǒng
种
wùzhì
物质
de
的
xiānghùzuòyòng
相互作用
。
The students further know the interaction between the two substances through the chemical test.
5
Suīzhe
随着
zhōngguó
中国
jiārù
加入
shìmào
世贸
zǔzhī
组织
,
zhōngguó
中国
yú
与
guójì
国际
shèhuì
社会
zhījiān
之间
de
的
xiānghù
相互
jiāowǎng
交往
huì
会
gèngjiā
更加
pínfán
频繁
。
With China's entry into WTO,she will communicate with the world more frequently.
相互 can be used together with 间 or 之间 as an attributive or adverbial.
1) 互相 cannot be an attributive by itself. We cannot say 互相关系 or 互相的感觉, etc., but we can say 互相合作的关系(the relationship of mutual cooperation), 互相信赖的感觉 (sense of mutual reliability), etc. Here 互相 is still an adverbial.
2) 互相 must be used with disyllabic or polysyllabic words and not with monosyllabic words. (互 is usually used with monosyllabic words to form four-character phrases, e.g. 互敬互让 yield to each other, 互有伤亡 the two sides at war suffered casualties, etc.)
2) 互相 must be used with disyllabic or polysyllabic words and not with monosyllabic words. (互 is usually used with monosyllabic words to form four-character phrases, e.g. 互敬互让 yield to each other, 互有伤亡 the two sides at war suffered casualties, etc.)
6
Yào
要
chǔlǐ
处理
hǎo
好
liǎng
两
gè
个
dānwèi
单位
xiānghù
相互
jiān
间
de
的
guānxi
关系
。
We should handle the mutual relationship of the two units well.
7
Liǎng
两
gè
个
chǎng
厂
de
的
chǎnpǐn
产品
xiānghùzhījiān
相互之间
jìngzhēng
竞争
hěn
很
jīliè
激烈
。
There is a fierce competition between the products of the two factories.