How common it is
相对 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say xiāng duì slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
相对可以表示两个事物互相比较，或者指面对面的位置。
Xiāng duì kěyǐ biǎoshì liǎng gè shìwù hùxiāng bǐjiào, huòzhě zhǐ miàn duì miàn de wèizhì.
Relative can mean comparing two things, or facing each other.
Context note
我们坐在教室的相对两边，但我们是好朋友。
Wǒmen zuò zài jiàoshì de xiāng duì liǎng biān, dàn wǒmen shì hǎo péngyou.
We sit on opposite sides of the classroom, but we are good friends.
5 examples
这两座山相对而立。
zhè liǎng zuò shān xiāng duì ér lì。
These two mountains stand facing each other.
我们相对而坐，一起看书。
wǒ men xiāng duì ér zuò， yì qǐ kàn shū。
We sit facing each other and read books together.
相对而言，我更喜欢画画。
xiāng duì ér yán， wǒ gèng xǐ huan huà huà。
Relatively speaking, I prefer drawing.
他们住在相对的两栋楼里。
tā men zhù zài xiāng duì de liǎng dòng lóu lǐ。
They live in two buildings opposite each other.
相对位置很重要。
xiāng duì wèi zhì hěn zhòng yào。
Relative position is very important.
5 mini stories
小明和小红相对坐在桌子两边。他们一起下棋。
xiǎo míng hé xiǎo hóng xiāng duì zuò zài zhuō zi liǎng biān。 tā men yì qǐ xià qí。
Xiao Ming and Xiao Hong sit opposite each other at the table. They play chess together.
两棵大树相对生长在路的两旁。小鸟在树上唱歌。
liǎng kē dà shù xiāng duì shēng zhǎng zài lù de liǎng páng。 xiǎo niǎo zài shù shàng chàng gē。
Two big trees grow opposite each other on both sides of the road. Little birds sing in the trees.
小刚和弟弟相对而笑。他们玩得很开心。
xiǎo gāng hé dì di xiāng duì ér xiào。 tā men wán dé hěn kāi xīn。
Xiao Gang and his little brother smile at each other. They have a lot of fun.
教室里的黑板和时钟相对。同学们看着时钟下课。
jiào shì lǐ de hēi bǎn hé shí zhōng xiāng duì。 tóng xué men kàn zhe shí zhōng xià kè。
The blackboard and the clock in the classroom are opposite each other. The students watch the clock for class to end.
相对而言，跑步比游泳简单。但游泳也很有趣。
xiāng duì ér yán， pǎo bù bǐ yóu yǒng jiǎn dān。 dàn yóu yǒng yě hěn yǒu qù。
Relatively speaking, running is simpler than swimming. But swimming is also fun.