禮尚往來

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)	禮	尚	往來
simp. (礼尚往来)	礼	尚	往来
variant forms	禮上往來／礼上往来

Etymology

禮尚往來，往而不來，非禮也，來而不往，亦非禮也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.][▼ expand/hide]

礼尚往来，往而不来，非礼也，来而不往，亦非礼也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Book of Rites, circa 4^th – 2^nd century BCE

Lǐ shàng wǎnglái, wǎng ér bù lái, fēilǐ yě, lái ér bù wǎng, yì fēilǐ yě. [Pinyin]

Li places an importance on the extending and receiving (of it). If it is extended, but not received, (this) is not li. If it is received, but not extended, (this) is likewise not li.

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): lǐshàngwǎnglái
(Zhuyin): ㄌㄧˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄨㄤˇ ㄌㄞˊ
Cantonese (Jyutping): lai⁵ soeng⁶ wong⁵ loi⁴

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Pinyin: lǐshàngwǎnglái
  - Zhuyin: ㄌㄧˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄨㄤˇ ㄌㄞˊ
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: liishanqwoanglai
  - IPA ^(key): /li²¹⁴⁻²¹¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ u̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹¹ laɪ̯³⁵/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: lai⁵ soeng⁶ wong⁵ loi⁴
  - Yale: láih seuhng wóhng lòih
  - Cantonese Pinyin: lai⁵ soeng⁶ wong⁵ loi⁴
  - Guangdong Romanization: lei⁵ sêng⁶ wong⁵ loi⁴
  - IPA ^(key): /lɐi̯¹³ sœ̽ːŋ²² wɔːŋ¹³ lɔːy̯²¹/

Idiom

禮尚往來

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