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相對而言

简相对而言 · 繁相對而言

Mandarin · pinyin xiāng duì ér yán

relatively speaking
comparatively speaking

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Characters in this entry

相: xiāng · mutual, reciprocal, each other
對: duì · correct, right; facing, opposed
而: ér · and; and then; and yet; but; Kangxi radical 126
言: yán · words, speech; speak, say; Kangxi radical 149
对: duì · correct, right; facing, opposed

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

1–4–2–2 · xiang1 dui4 er2 yan2

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Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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