禮尚往來
简 礼尚往来 · 繁 禮尚往來Meanings
- lit. proper behavior is based on reciprocity (idiom)
- fig. to return politeness for politeness
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Mandarin tones
3–4–3–2 · li3 shang4 wang3 lai2
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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.
禮尚往來 · find source passages ↗ · 礼尚往来 · find source passages ↗
Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 2 senses · 1 Cantonese reading
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
lai5 soeng6 wong5 loi4
Cantonese word readings for 禮尚往來. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
phrase
- (idiomatic) to reciprocate the courtesy shown to you by another; to treat others as you would like to be treated
- (idiomatic) to reciprocate a gift; to give a gift in return
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
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