相 xiāng — mutual · English

相

xiāng

mutual

At a glance · 相

Listen

Audio is synthesized in your browser: Mandarin for the character and Shuowen text, native voices for every translation. No downloads.

Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「相」甲骨文从木从目，象以目观木，金文小篆承之。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「相」本义为审视、相看，引申互相、相貌、宰相。

Structure

从木、从目，会意字，以目察木，本为省视，引申相辅。

At a glance

Pinyinxiāng

Radical目

Strokes9

UnicodeU+76F8

Character type会意

Theme动作

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English mutual mutual, reciprocal, each other

Français ministre / se regarder Ministre, se regarder. «府罗将相» : les ministres.

Español ministro / mirarse Ministro, mirarse. «府罗将相»: los ministros.

العربية وزير / يتأمل وزير، يتأمل. «府罗将相»: الوزراء.

Русский министр / смотреть Министр, смотреть. «府罗将相»: министры.

Common words

相xiàngprime minister
相同xiāng tóngsame

◉ Listen