禮尚往來

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See also: 礼尚往来

Chinese

gift; propriety; rite
still; yet; to value
still; yet; to value; to esteem
 
to go back and forth; to come and go; to have dealings with
to go back and forth; to come and go; to have dealings with; to have contact with; to communicate; to exchange
 
trad. (禮尚往來) 往來
simp. (礼尚往来) 往来
alternative forms 禮上往來礼上往来

Etymology

From the Book of Rites, Book 1 (《禮記·曲禮上》):

太上其次禮尚往來非禮非禮 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
太上其次礼尚往来非礼非礼 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4th – 2nd century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Tàishàng guì dé, qícì wù shī bào. Lǐ shàng wǎnglái. Wǎng ér bù lái, fēilǐ yě; lái ér bù wǎng, yì fēilǐ yě.
In the highest antiquity they prized (simply conferring) good; in the time next to this, giving and repaying was the thing attended to. And what the rules of propriety value is that reciprocity. If I give a gift and nothing comes in return, that is contrary to propriety; if the thing comes to me, and I give nothing in return, that also is contrary to propriety.

Pronunciation


Idiom

禮尚往來

  1. to reciprocate the courtesy shown to you by another; to treat others as you would like to be treated
  2. to reciprocate a gift; to give a gift in return