Japanese kanji 互: mutual actions and understanding

The idea

互 has four strokes. 互い（たがい） means each other: 互いに modifies an action, while 互いの modifies a noun. 相互（そうご） is a more formal word for mutual relations, as in 相互理解.

Examples

• 私わたしたちは互たがいに助たすけます。We help each other.
• 二人ふたりは互たがいの名前なまえを知しっています。The two know each other’s names.
• 互たがいに意見いけんを聞ききました。We listened to each other’s opinions.
• 互たがいの違ちがいを大切たいせつにします。We value each other’s differences.
• 相互そうご理解りかいが大切たいせつです。Mutual understanding is important.
• 両国りょうこくは相互そうごに協力きょうりょくしています。The two countries cooperate with each other.

Watch out

Do not read 互 the same way in every word: 互い is たがい, but 相互 is そうご. Mutual action involves both sides; 互いの names what belongs to each side.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 互い in hiragana.

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   たがい

   互い is たがい: 互いに助けます means we help each other.

2. Write the reading of 相互 in hiragana.

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   そうご

   相互 is そうご: 相互理解 means mutual understanding.

3. Choose the missing kanji: 相＿（そうご）［互／五］.

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   互

   互 completes 相互, そうご, as in 相互に協力する, to cooperate mutually.

Use it today

Write 互, cover the examples, and make one sentence with 互いに and another with 互いの.