Reciprocal Pronoun 彼此 in Chinese
彼此
彼此 refers reciprocally to each side in a relationship and commonly appears before a verb whose action runs both ways, such as trusting, helping, or understanding. It can also be nominal in the fixed expression 不分彼此. Reciprocal meaning requires at least two participants and an intact pronoun in its normal argument slot.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Plural Subject + 彼此 + Verb; 不分彼此
Read the structure
彼此 refers reciprocally to each side in a relationship and commonly appears before a verb whose action runs both ways, such as trusting, helping, or understanding. It can also be nominal in the fixed expression 不分彼此. Reciprocal meaning requires at least two participants and an intact pronoun in its normal argument slot. Keep the model Plural Subject + 彼此 + Verb; 不分彼此 visible while you compare each sentence.
同事们应该彼此信任。
Colleagues should trust one another.
Choose the right context
Use 彼此 before a verb describing mutual action. Use it after a preposition when both sides are reciprocal participants. Use 不分彼此 to describe an especially close relationship.
我们对彼此都很了解。
We know each other very well.
Respect the boundary
Do not insert aspect marking inside the pronoun. Do not use 彼此 with a grammatically singular participant set. Do not add 互相 immediately before 彼此 in the same reciprocal slot.
同事们彼了此帮助过。
(The colleagues have helped one another.)
Repair the pattern
Aspect marker splits the reciprocal pronoun: 彼此 is an indivisible reciprocal pronoun; 了 cannot occur inside it, while experiential 过 follows the action. Reciprocal pronoun splits a preposition from its object: Preposition 对 must take object 彼此 directly; the degree predicate follows the complete prepositional phrase.
同事们彼此帮助过。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
同事们应该彼此信任。
Colleagues should trust one another.
同事
Plural Subject
This part occupies the Plural Subject position in the model pattern.
们
彼此
This part occupies the 彼此 position in the model pattern.
应该
Verb; 不分彼此
This part occupies the Verb; 不分彼此 position in the model pattern.
彼此
Plural Subject
This part occupies the Plural Subject position in the model pattern.
信任
彼此
This part occupies the 彼此 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
同事们应该彼此信任。
Colleagues should trust one another.
我们对彼此都很了解。
We know each other very well.
他们是老朋友，不分彼此。
They are old friends and share everything.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Use 彼此 before a verb describing mutual action.
- Use it after a preposition when both sides are reciprocal participants.
- Use 不分彼此 to describe an especially close relationship.
Do not use it when
- Do not insert aspect marking inside the pronoun.
- Do not use 彼此 with a grammatically singular participant set.
- Do not add 互相 immediately before 彼此 in the same reciprocal slot.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
同事们彼了此帮助过。
同事们彼此帮助过。
Aspect marker splits the reciprocal pronoun
彼此 is an indivisible reciprocal pronoun; 了 cannot occur inside it, while experiential 过 follows the action.
我们对很了解彼此。
我们对彼此都很了解。
Reciprocal pronoun splits a preposition from its object
Preposition 对 must take object 彼此 directly; the degree predicate follows the complete prepositional phrase.
同事们彼了此帮助过。
彼此 is an indivisible reciprocal pronoun; 了 cannot occur inside it, while experiential 过 follows the action.
我们对很了解彼此。
Preposition 对 must take object 彼此 directly; the degree predicate follows the complete prepositional phrase.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 彼此.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 彼此. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Reciprocal Pronoun 彼此 Questions
Can 彼此 refer to more than two people?
Yes. It can describe reciprocal relations among members of a plural group.
How is 彼此 different from 互相?
彼此 is a pronoun; 互相 is an adverb, though both can express reciprocity before a verb.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, Level 5 item 【五01】 (PDF p. 222)
Provides official Level 5 directory placement and examples only; it does not establish the learner-facing usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 5, Nouns
Supports pronouns in subject, object, and prepositional-object positions; GF item 【五01】 establishes the reciprocal meaning and examples of 彼此.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
我/你/他/她/我们Basic Personal Pronouns
Distinguish between 彼此 indicating a two-way mutual relationship and ordinary personal pronouns that only indicate the participants, and check whether the actions occur between the two parties.
Compare
人家The Pronoun 人家
Distinguish the multi-party mutual reference required for 彼此 from the third-party general reference of 人家 to avoid treating group reference as a mutual relationship.
Compare
自己The Reflexive Pronoun 自己
Compare reciprocal 彼此 with reflexive 自己 so a self-directed action is not mistaken for a mutual action.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Compare
Distinguish between 彼此 indicating a two-way mutual relationship and ordinary personal pronouns that only indicate the participants, and check whether the actions occur between the two parties.