[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Society-and-Culture \ #Interpersonal-Relationships # 互 hù reciprocal, mutual ## Components [[二 èr]] [[二 (èr)]] [[彑 (jì)]] ## Meaning The Chinese character 互 (hù) means "mutual" or "each other." **Uses**: 1. Reciprocal Action: - 互相帮助 (hùxiāng bāngzhù) - to help each other - 互相理解 (hùxiāng lǐjiě) - to understand each other 2. Exchange or Interchange: - 互换 (hùhuàn) - to exchange - 互通有无 (hùtōng yǒuwú) - to communicate, to have regular contact 3. Relationships: - 互相尊重 (hùxiāng zūnzhòng) - to respect each other - 互信 (hùxìn) - mutual trust 4. Technology and Communication: - 互联网 (hùliánwǎng) - internet - 互动 (hùdòng) - interaction, to interact ## History In Seal Script, the depiction of two hands meeting or helping each other was simplified into more straight and angular strokes. This trend continued in Clerical Script (隶书, lìshū), where the character became even more stylized and standardized, with the angular strokes further simplified into a more geometric form. Finally, in Regular Script (楷书, kǎishū), the character underwent further refinement, with strokes and proportions adjusted to create a form similar to its modern printed version. Throughout its evolution, the character 互 (hù) has retained its fundamental meaning of "mutual" or "each other," indicating reciprocal action or relationship between two or more entities. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ? ### Bronze Script ? ### Seal Script ![[互 hù - sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[互 hù - cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[互 hù - reg.svg]]