xiāng相mutuallyfǔ辅assistxiāng相mutuallychéng成complete
To complement each other; to supplement and complement.
Literal meaning
mutually (相) — assist (辅) — mutually (相) — complete (成)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing the interdependence of things.
Examples
zhè这liǎng两gè个gài概niàn念xiāng相fǔ辅xiāng相chéng成。
These two concepts complement each other.
lǐ理lùn论hé和shí实jiàn践yīng应gāi该xiāng相fǔ辅xiāng相chéng成。
Theory and practice should complement each other.
Usage & nuances
Often used to describe a mutually beneficial relationship.
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