互补

• Pinyin: hù bǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 互 = symmetrical strokes — mutual, reciprocal; 补 = 衤 (clothing radical) + 卜 — to patch, supplement, fill a gap

Meaning

To complement each other; to make up for each other's shortcomings. Describes a relationship where two or more parties supply what the other lacks.

Used in partnerships, bilateral relations, business cooperation, and personality descriptions. 优势互补 (complementary strengths) is a very common phrase in business and diplomacy.

Examples

1. 这两位设计师一个擅长技术实现，一个精于创意发想，二人相互互补，作品屡获大奖。 One of the two designers excels at technical implementation, while the other is brilliant at generating creative ideas; they complement each other, and their work has won awards again and again.
2. 两国在资源上高度互补，一方拥有丰富的矿产，另一方具有先进的加工技术。 The two countries’ resources complement each other: one has abundant minerals, while the other has advanced processing technology.
3. 团队成员的技能结构要尽量互补，避免大量同质化人才堆叠在同一方向上。 A team’s skill set should be as complementary as possible, avoiding an overconcentration of similar talent in the same area.

Usage Guide

Context: business, diplomacy, teamwork, partnerships

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这次战略合作协议的签署，标志着两家企业正式建立了优势互补、资源共享的深度合作关系，预计将在三年内显著提升双方的市场竞争力。(The signing of this strategic cooperation agreement marks the formal establishment of a deep partnership built on complementary strengths and shared resources between the two companies, which is expected to significantly enhance both parties' market competitiveness within three years.)
• 心理学研究表明，性格上能够互补的伴侣往往在长期关系中展现出更强的适应力和满足感，而不是要求对方与自己完全相似。(Psychological research shows that partners whose personalities complement each other tend to display greater adaptability and satisfaction in long-term relationships, rather than requiring each other to be exactly alike.)

Don't Say

• 互补 when you mean 相似 (similar) or 相同 (identical) — 互补 specifically implies difference that fills a gap, not resemblance

Origin & History

互 (mutually; each other) + 补 (to supplement; to fill a gap) — together meaning to mutually fill each other's gaps

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal