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互通有无

hù tōng yǒu wúdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
(idiom) mutual exchange of assistance / to benefit from each other's strengths and make up each other's shortfalls / to reciprocate with material assistance / to scratch each other's back
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-ac48f9697a814f59. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

互通有無 互通有无 [hu4 tong1 you3 wu2] /(idiom) mutual exchange of assistance; to benefit from each other's strengths and make up each other's shortfalls; to reciprocate with material assistance; to scratch each other's back/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 互通有無

  • 互
    hù

    mutual

  • 通
    tōng

    to go through / to know well / (suffix) expert / to connect / to communicate / open / to clear / classifier for letters, telegrams, phone calls etc

    tòng

    classifier for an activity, taken in its entirety (tirade of abuse, stint of music playing, bout of drinking etc)

  • 有
    yǒu

    to have / there is / (bound form) having / with / -ful / -ed / -al (as in 有意[yǒu yì] intentional)

  • 无
    mó

    used in 南無|南无[nā mó]

    wú

    not to have / no / none / not / to lack / un- / -less

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.