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Love and respect each other
相敬相愛 is an old Chinese proverb that suggests love and respect go together and are to be exchanged between people (especially couples).
The first two characters mean “exchanging respect” or “mutual respect.”
The last two characters create a word that means “to love each other” or “mutual love.”
You'll notice that the first and third characters are the same. So you can read this literally as something like “Exchange respect, exchange love” or “Mutual respect, mutual love.” In English, we'd probably just say, “Mutual love and respect.” Grammar differs in every language - So while the literal translation might sound a bit awkward in English, this phrase is very natural in Chinese.
Love each other and show mutual respect
相愛互敬 is a nice way to say “Love and Respect” in Chinese.
This proverb is about the mutual exchange of love and respect within a good relationship.
The first two characters create a word that means “to love each other” or “mutual love.”
The third character means mutual, interlocking, or in some contexts, “to dovetail” (as in how joints are made in fine furniture).
The last character means “to respect,” “to venerate,” “to salute,” “reverence,” or simply “respect.”
花園里的戰士好過戰場上的園丁 is the Chinese for the phrase, “It is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.”
This proverb is purported to come from the following exchange:
A student approaches his samurai master and says,
“Teacher, you instruct me how to fight, yet you preach to me about peace. How do I reconcile the two?”
The samurai responds,
“Because it is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.”
Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
In 632 BC, Duke Wen of the Kingdom of Jin was about to lead an army against the forces of the Kingdom of Chu.
The Duke asked one of his advisers, Jiu Fan, how they could win the impending battle, as they were drastically outnumbered.
Jiu Fan said, “All is fair in war,” and suggested a plan of dishonorable tactics (cheating).
The Duke was unsure of this advice, so he asked another adviser, Yong Ji, who replied, “If you catch fish by draining the pond, you can certainly get all the fish. But there will be no fish the following year. You can cheat this one time in battle, but such tactics can only be used once, as the enemy will be wise in future encounters.”
The Duke heard the words of his wiser adviser but cheated to gain victory in the battle. However, he rewarded Yong Ji more than Jiu Fan at the victory celebration, stating that while Jiu Fan's advice gained one victory, the wise words of Yong Ji would last forever.
This Chinese idiom/proverb is still used, over 2600 years later to remind people not to burn bridges, cheat, or dishonor themselves in exchange for a short-term gain while sacrificing the future.
竭澤而漁 is very similar to the meaning of the English phrase, “Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.”
(phonetic version)
伊斯蘭教 both means and sounds like “Islam” in Mandarin Chinese.
The first three characters sound like the word “Islam,” and the last character means “religion” or “teaching.” It's the most general term for “Islam” in China. The highest concentration of Muslims in China is Xinjiang (the vast region in northwest China that was called The East Turkistan Republic until 1949 and is sometimes called Chinese Turkistan, Uyghuristan). Here you will find Uygurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and others that are descendants of Turkmen (possibly mixed with Persians and Arabs). Many of their ancestors were traders who traveled the silk road to buy and sell spices and silk and exchange other goods from the Orient and the Middle East.
I spent some time in Xinjiang and got to know this community. They are strong people who can endure much. They are friendly and love to have a good time. I was a stranger but was treated by villagers (near China's border with Afghanistan) as if I was a good friend.
However, I have heard that it's best not to cross them, as in this land, the law is the blade, and everything is “eye for an eye.” The Chinese government has little control in Xinjiang, with almost no police officers except in the capital of Urumqi (so it's a 60-hour roundtrip train ride to seek the aid of law enforcement in most cases).
While few seem devout, there are at least small mosques in every village. And you will never see a man or woman outside without a head covering.
It should be noted that these people are all citizens of China, but they are officially of the Caucasian race. A visit to Xinjiang will change your idea of what it means to be Chinese.
The Chinese Concept of Relationship and Exchange of Favors
The dictionary definition is:
Relations/relationship, to concern, to affect, to have to do with, or connection.
But there's more to it...
In China, the relationship that you have with certain people can open doors for you. Having guanxi with someone also means they would never defraud you but are honor-bound to treat you fairly (of course, this goes both ways). Sometimes it is suggested that guanxi is the exchange of favors. 關繫 / 関繫 / 關係 is more about having a relationship that allows you to ask for and expect favors without shame.
There is no concept in western culture that exactly matches guanxi, but perhaps having a social or professional network is similar.
Note that there are some variations common within Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and Korean Hanja for this word...
Japanese tend to use a Chinese alternate form as shown to the right for
the first character.
There's also another alternate form of that first character (currently used as the official Simplified form in mainland China) which looks like the character shown to the right. It's basically the central radical of the alternate version shown above but without the “door radical” around it. In more free-flowing calligraphy styles, this version would be the likely choice for a calligrapher.
In Modern Japanese, they use the character shown to the right.
They also tend to use this same form in Korean Hanja (I've only checked this word in my Korean dictionary, but it has not been confirmed by a translator's review).
If that was not confusing enough, there is another alternate form of that second character. See right.
An Asian calligrapher of any nationality may use these forms at their discretion. However, They would tend to stick to the most common form used in their respective languages.
If you have any preference on any of these issues, please give us a special note with your order, and we'll make sure it's done the way you want.
These search terms might be related to Exchange:
3. Right Speech / Right Talk / Perfect Speech
Labor Union / Trade Union
Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your exchange search...
Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
情定終身 情定终身 see styles |
qíng dìng zhōng shēn qing2 ding4 zhong1 shen1 ch`ing ting chung shen ching ting chung shen |
More info & calligraphy: Pledge of Lifelong Love |
兌 兑 see styles |
duì dui4 tui da だ |
to cash; to exchange; to add (liquid); to blend; one of the Eight Trigrams 八卦[ba1 gua4], symbolizing swamp; ☱ dui (one of the trigrams of the I Ching: swamp, west); (given name) Tooru |
匯 汇 see styles |
huì hui4 hui |
to remit; to converge (of rivers); to exchange |
掉 see styles |
diào diao4 tiao jō |
to fall; to drop; to lag behind; to lose; to go missing; to reduce; fall (in prices); to lose (value, weight etc); to wag; to swing; to turn; to change; to exchange; to swap; to show off; to shed (hair); (used after certain verbs to express completion, fulfillment, removal etc) To shake, change, arrange; to fall. |
換 换 see styles |
huàn huan4 huan kan かん |
to exchange; to change (clothes etc); to substitute; to switch; to convert (currency) (personal name) Kan |
易 see styles |
yì yi4 i eki えき |
easy; amiable; to change; to exchange; prefix corresponding to the English adjective suffix "-able" or "-ible" (1) type of cleromancy divination (described in the Book of Changes) performed with long sticks; (2) (abbreviation) (See 易経) The Book of Changes; Yijing; I Ching; (given name) Yasushi Change; easy. |
替 see styles |
tì ti4 t`i ti tai |
to substitute for; to take the place of; to replace; for; on behalf of; to stand in for Substitute, deputy, on behalf of, for, exchange. |
調 调 see styles |
tiáo tiao2 t`iao tiao chou / cho ちょう |
to harmonize; to reconcile; to blend; to suit well; to adjust; to regulate; to season (food); to provoke; to incite (n,n-suf) (1) {music} key; (n,n-suf) (2) {music} mode (in gagaku); (suffix noun) (3) time; tempo; rhythm; (suffix noun) (4) meter (of a poem); metre; (suffix noun) (5) style; form; mood; pattern; (6) (hist) tax in kind (paid with locally produced goods; under the ritsuryō system); (male given name) Mitsugu To harmonize, blend; regulate, control; to change about, exchange; a song, tune. |
FX see styles |
efu ekkusu; efuekkusu(sk) エフ・エックス; エフエックス(sk) |
{finc} (See 外国為替) foreign exchange |
三包 see styles |
sān bāo san1 bao1 san pao |
"three-guarantee service": repair, exchange, refund |
三献 see styles |
sankon; sangon さんこん; さんごん |
{Shinto} (See 三々九度) three-times-three exchange of nuptial cups |
上場 上场 see styles |
shàng chǎng shang4 chang3 shang ch`ang shang chang joujou / jojo じょうじょう |
on stage; to go on stage; to take the field (noun, transitive verb) (1) listing (on the stock exchange, etc.); taking (a company) public; (noun, transitive verb) (2) (See 上演) performance (of a play, opera, etc.); staging; presentation; (surname) Kanba |
上證 上证 see styles |
shàng zhèng shang4 zheng4 shang cheng |
Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE), abbr. for 上海證券交易所|上海证券交易所[Shang4 hai3 Zheng4 quan4 Jiao1 yi4 suo3] |
両替 see styles |
ryougae / ryogae りょうがえ |
(noun, transitive verb) change; money exchange; (place-name, surname) Ryōgae |
串換 串换 see styles |
chuàn huàn chuan4 huan4 ch`uan huan chuan huan |
to exchange; to change; to swap |
九献 see styles |
kukon くこん |
(1) (See 三三九度) three-times-three exchange of nuptial cups; (2) (See 女房詞) sake (secret language of court ladies); rice wine |
互換 互换 see styles |
hù huàn hu4 huan4 hu huan gokan ごかん |
to exchange (noun/participle) (1) interchange; (2) {math} transposition; (can act as adjective) (3) compatible (e.g. PC) |
互訪 互访 see styles |
hù fǎng hu4 fang3 hu fang |
exchange visits |
交す see styles |
kawasu かわす |
(irregular okurigana usage) (transitive verb) (1) to exchange (messages, greetings, arguments, etc.); (2) to intersect; to cross; to interlace; (suf,v5s) (3) ... with one another; ... to each other |
交代 see styles |
jiāo dài jiao1 dai4 chiao tai kyōtai こうたい |
to transfer (duties to sb else); to give instructions; to tell (sb to do something); to explain; to give an account; to brief; to confess; to account for oneself; (jocular) to come to a bad end (noun/participle) alternation; change; relief; relay; shift; substitution (sports, etc.); taking turns 交付 To hand over, entrust to. |
交換 交换 see styles |
jiāo huàn jiao1 huan4 chiao huan koukan / kokan こうかん |
to exchange; to swap; to switch (telecom); commutative (math); to commute (noun, transitive verb) exchange; interchange; switching; reciprocity; barter; substitution; replacement; clearing (of checks, cheques) |
交款 see styles |
koukan / kokan こうかん |
(out-dated kanji) (noun/participle) exchange of courtesies (cordialities); fraternization; fraternisation |
交歓 see styles |
koukan / kokan こうかん |
(noun/participle) exchange of courtesies (cordialities); fraternization; fraternisation |
交流 see styles |
jiāo liú jiao1 liu2 chiao liu kouryuu / koryu こうりゅう |
to exchange; exchange; communication; interaction; to have social contact (with sb) (n,vs,vi) (1) exchange (e.g. cultural); interchange; interaction; mingling; mixing; coming together; (2) {elec} alternating current; AC |
交通 see styles |
jiāo tōng jiao1 tong1 chiao t`ung chiao tung koutsuu / kotsu こうつう |
to be connected; traffic; transportation; communications; liaison (noun/participle) traffic; transportation; communication; exchange (of ideas, etc.); intercourse |
交驩 see styles |
koukan / kokan こうかん |
(noun/participle) exchange of courtesies (cordialities); fraternization; fraternisation |
代え see styles |
kae かえ |
(1) change; alteration; substitute; spare; proxy; (2) rate of exchange |
代り see styles |
gawari がわり kawari かわり |
(suffix) substitute for ...; (noun - becomes adjective with の) (1) substitute; replacement; substituting; replacing; (2) stand-in; proxy; alternate; deputy; relief; successor; (3) compensation; exchange; return; (4) second helping; another cup; seconds; (5) (abbreviation) upcoming program; upcoming programme |
休場 see styles |
kyuujou / kyujo きゅうじょう |
(n,vs,vi) (1) (temporary) closure (of a theater, entertainment venue, etc.); (n,vs,vt,vi) (2) absence (from a performance, match, etc.); sitting out; (n,vs,vt,vi) (3) {sumo} absence (from a bout or tournament); (n,vs,vi) (4) {stockm} holiday; closure (of a stock exchange); (place-name) Yasunba |
倒騰 倒腾 see styles |
dǎo teng dao3 teng5 tao t`eng tao teng |
to move; to shift; to exchange; to buy and sell; peddling |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Love and Respect | 相敬相愛 相亲相爱 | xiāng jìng xiāng ài xiang1 jing4 xiang1 ai4 xiang jing xiang ai xiangjingxiangai | hsiang ching hsiang ai hsiangchinghsiangai |
|
Love and Respect | 相愛互敬 相爱互敬 | xiāng ài hù jìng xiang1 ai4 hu4 jing4 xiang ai hu jing xiangaihujing | hsiang ai hu ching hsiangaihuching |
|
It is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war | 花園里的戰士好過戰場上的園丁 花园里的战士好过战场上的园丁 | huā yuán lǐ de zhàn shì hǎo guò zhàn chǎng shàng de yuán dīng huā yuán lǐ de zhàn shì hǎo guò zhàn chǎng shàng de yuán dīng ài wēng huā yuán lǐ de zhàn shì hǎo guò zhàn chǎng shàng de yuán dīng hua1 yuan2 li3 de zhan4 shi4 hao3 guo4 zhan4 chang3 shang4 de yuan2 ding1 hua1 yuan2 li3 de zhan4 shi4 hao3 guo4 zhan4 chang3 shang4 de yuan2 ding1 ai4 weng1 hua1 yuan2 li3 de zhan4 shi4 hao3 guo4 zhan4 chang3 shang4 de yuan2 ding1 hua yuan li de zhan shi hao guo zhan chang shang de yuan ding hua yuan li de zhan shi hao guo zhan chang shang de yuan ding ai weng hua yuan li de zhan shi hao guo zhan chang shang de yuan ding | hua yüan li te chan shih hao kuo chan ch`ang shang te yüan ting hua yüan li te chan shih hao kuo chan ch`ang shang te yüan ting ai weng hua yüan li te chan shih hao kuo chan ch`ang shang te yüan ting hua yüan li te chan shih hao kuo chan chang shang te yüan ting hua yüan li te chan shih hao kuo chan chang shang te yüan ting ai weng hua yüan li te chan shih hao kuo chan chang shang te yüan ting |
|
Drain the pond to get all the fish | 竭澤而漁 竭泽而渔 | jié zé ér yú jie2 ze2 er2 yu2 jie ze er yu jiezeeryu | chieh tse erh yü chiehtseerhyü |
|
Islam | 伊斯蘭教 伊斯兰教 | yī sī lán jiào yi1 si1 lan2 jiao4 yi si lan jiao yisilanjiao | i ssu lan chiao issulanchiao |
|
Guanxi | 關繫 / 関繫 / 關係 关系 / 関係 | kankei | guān xì / guan1 xi4 / guan xi / guanxi | kuan hsi / kuanhsi |
In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. |
Successful Chinese Character and Japanese Kanji calligraphy searches within the last few hours...
All of our calligraphy wall scrolls are handmade.
When the calligrapher finishes creating your artwork, it is taken to my art mounting workshop in Beijing where a wall scroll is made by hand from a combination of silk, rice paper, and wood.
After we create your wall scroll, it takes at least two weeks for air mail delivery from Beijing to you.
Allow a few weeks for delivery. Rush service speeds it up by a week or two for $10!
When you select your calligraphy, you'll be taken to another page where you can choose various custom options.
The wall scroll that Sandy is holding in this picture is a "large size"
single-character wall scroll.
We also offer custom wall scrolls in small, medium, and an even-larger jumbo size.
Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days.
Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up.
There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form
of art alive.
Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.
The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat.
Check out my lists of Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls and Old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.
Some people may refer to this entry as Exchange Kanji, Exchange Characters, Exchange in Mandarin Chinese, Exchange Characters, Exchange in Chinese Writing, Exchange in Japanese Writing, Exchange in Asian Writing, Exchange Ideograms, Chinese Exchange symbols, Exchange Hieroglyphics, Exchange Glyphs, Exchange in Chinese Letters, Exchange Hanzi, Exchange in Japanese Kanji, Exchange Pictograms, Exchange in the Chinese Written-Language, or Exchange in the Japanese Written-Language.