相

Derived characters

• 廂(厢), 㜀, 湘, 緗(缃), 想, 葙, 箱, 霜

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 800, character 18
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 23151
• Dae Jaweon: page 1216, character 8
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 4, page 2470, character 13
• Unihan data for U+76F8

Definitions

相

1. to see for oneself; to evaluate by seeing for oneself

   相女婿  ―  xiāng nǚxù  ―  assess the suitability of a prospective son-in-law or husband

2. mutually; reciprocally; towards each other; one another

   相望  ―  xiāngwàng  ―  to look at each other

   相逢  ―  xiāngféng  ―  to meet by chance

3. together; jointly
4. successively; one after another
5. used before a verb to indicate the action is performed by one person towards another

   相信  ―  xiàngxìn  ―  to believe

   如實相告／如实相告  ―  rúshí xiānggào  ―  (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   出手相救  ―  chūshǒu xiāngjiù  ―  (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 1976 revised / 1955–56, 金庸, chapter 1, in 書劍恩仇錄, 明河社, page 17:

     [陸菲青] 竟自昏了過去。也不知過了多少時候，迷迷糊糊中只覺得有人相推 [MSC, trad.]
     [陆菲青] 竟自昏了过去。也不知过了多少时候，迷迷糊糊中只觉得有人相推 [MSC, simp.]

     [Lù Fēiqīng] jìngzì hūn le guòqù. Yě bù zhī guò le duōshǎo shíhòu, mímíhúhú zhōng zhǐ jué de yǒu rén xiāng tuī [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1994, “且留新月共今宵”, 瓊瑤 (lyrics), performed by 葉歡:

     旗正飄飄　馬正蕭蕭　一彎新月來相照 [MSC, trad.]
     旗正飘飘　马正萧萧　一弯新月来相照 [MSC, simp.]

     qí zhèng piāopiāo, mǎ zhèng xiāoxiāo, yī wān xīnyuè lái xiāng zhào [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

6. a surname

Synonyms

• (to each other; a meaningless element): 廝 / 厮 (sī)

Compounds

Definitions

相

1. to look at; to examine the appearance and judge; to observe

   • 相鼠有皮，人而無儀！ [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     相鼠有皮，人而无仪！ [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 《相鼠》, the 52^nd poem in the Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th～7^th centuries BCE

     Xiàng shǔ yǒu pí, rén ér wú yí! [Pinyin]

     Look at the rat, it keeps its coat;
     How can a man lack proper comport?

2. looks; appearance; features

   長相／长相  ―  zhǎngxiàng  ―  facial features

3. posture; bearing

   睡相  ―  shuìxiàng  ―  posture during sleep

4. demeanour; manners

   吃相  ―  chīxiàng  ―  table manners

5. photo; picture; photograph (Classifier: 張／张 m c; 幅 c)

   影幾張相／影几张相 [Cantonese]  ―  jing² gei² zoeng¹ soeng^3-2 [Jyutping]  ―  to take a few pictures

6. phase; exterior; stage; period
7. (physics) phase

   相空間／相空间  ―  xiàngkōngjiān  ―  phase space

   相位  ―  xiàngwèi  ―  phase

   月相  ―  yuèxiàng  ―  lunar phase

8. (geology) facies
9. to physiognomise; to practise physiognomy; to tell fortune by reading the subject's facial features

   相面  ―  xiàngmiàn  ―  to tell somebody's fortune by their face

10. physiognomy; practice of physiognomy
11. to choose; to pick
12. to assist; to help; to oversee

    相夫教子  ―  xiàngfūjiàozǐ  ―  to help one's husband while bringing up one's children

    • 乃今幸為天火之所滌蕩，凡眾之疑慮，舉為灰埃。黔其廬，赭其垣，以示其無有，而足下之才能乃可顯白而不汙，其實出矣。是祝融、回祿之相吾子也。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
      乃今幸为天火之所涤荡，凡众之疑虑，举为灰埃。黔其庐，赭其垣，以示其无有，而足下之才能乃可显白而不污，其实出矣。是祝融、回禄之相吾子也。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

      From: circa 806, Liu Zongyuan (柳宗元),《賀進士王參元失火書》, translated into English as Congratulations on a Fire by Herbert A. Giles, 1922.

      Nǎi jīn xìng wèi tiānhuǒ zhī suǒ dídàng, fán zhòng zhī yílǜ, jǔ wèi huī'āi. Qián qí lú, zhě qí yuán, yǐ shì qí wú yǒu, ér zúxià zhī cáinéng nǎi kě xiǎn bái ér bù wū, qí shí chū yǐ. Shì Zhùróng, Huílù zhī xiàng wúzǐ yě. [Pinyin]

      But now that Heaven has sent this ruin upon you, the suspicions of men vanish with the smoke of the fire, and are refuted by the blackened walls which proclaim your poverty to all. Your talents have now free play, without fear of reproach. Verily the Gods of Fire are on your side.

13. (Chinese mythology) Xiang of Xia (fifth king of the semi-legendary Xia dynasty)
14. (chiefly historical or in compounds) Chancellor of State; minister

    外相  ―  wàixiàng  ―  foreign minister

    首相  ―  shǒuxiàng  ―  prime minister

    • 恩相，恰纔蒙兩個承局呼喚林沖，將刀來比看。 [MSC, trad.]
      恩相，恰才蒙两个承局呼唤林冲，将刀来比看。 [MSC, simp.]

      From: Water Margin, Chapter 7

      Ēn xiàng, qià cái méng liǎng ge chéng jú hūhuàn Lín Chōng, jiāng dāo lái bǐ kàn. [Pinyin]

      Benevolent Lord, two of your lieutenants brought me here saying you wanted to compare your sword with mine.

15. (xiangqi) minister: 🩢 (on the red side)
16. (historical) master of ceremonies
17. (historical) attendant
18. to administer; to govern

    • 吾聞勞心者役人，勞力者役於人，彼其勞心者歟？能者用而智者謀，彼其智者歟？是足為佐天子、相天下法矣！ [Literary Chinese, trad.]
      吾闻劳心者役人，劳力者役于人，彼其劳心者欤？能者用而智者谋，彼其智者欤？是足为佐天子、相天下法矣！ [Literary Chinese, simp.]

      From: c. 800, 柳宗元 (Liu Zongyuan),《梓人傳》, translation revised from Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang's version

      Wú wén láoxīn zhě yì rén, láolì zhě yì yú rén, bǐ qí láoxīn zhě yú? Néng zhě yòng ér zhì zhě móu, bǐ qí zhì zhě yú? Shì zú wéi zuǒ tiānzǐ, xiàng tiānxià fǎ yǐ! [Pinyin]

      I have heard that (Mencius said), “Those who toil with their minds cause others to labor on their behalf, while those who toil with their hands labor for others and serve those who use their minds.” He must be one who toils with his mind. Skilled men employ their skills, while intelligent men devise plans. He must be an intelligent man. If so, this serves as a worthy model for those who assist their sovereign in governing an empire.

19. to teach; to instruct
20. a person who guides or leads a blind person

    • 危而不持，顛而不扶，則將焉用彼相矣？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
      危而不持，颠而不扶，则将焉用彼相矣？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

      From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

      Wēi ér bù chí, diān ér bù fú, zé jiāng yān yòng bǐ xiàng yǐ? [Pinyin]

      How can he be used as a guide to a blind man, who does not support him when tottering, nor raise him up when fallen?

21. (Southern Min) to be born in the year of (one of the twelve animals)
22. (Teochew, Haifeng Min) to believe
23. a surname

Compounds