互通有无

hù tōng yǒu wú

each supplies what the other lacks

Character by character

互hù
mutually

通tōng
exchange

有yǒu
what one has

无wú
what one lacks

贸易的意义就在于互通有无。

The point of trade lies in each side supplying what the other lacks.

Tone: positive (praise).

Learn this in Lesson 56 · HSK 6: 一带一路与对外贸易 (Belt and Road, and trade)

A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.