相

Core senses include: 1) Observation and appraisal (to examine, judge, or inspect). 2) Physical appearance, countenance, or outward features. 3) A high ministerial office, typically the Prime Minister. 4) In Buddhist/philosophical contexts, "marks" or "outward forms" (lakshana), often contrasted with inner essence or emptiness.

Functions as a marker of reciprocal action; it typically precedes the verb to indicate symmetry (where A and B both perform the action upon each other).

Reciprocal symmetry denoted by 相 is distinct from collective action ("together"), which is rendered by 共 or 同.

Later traditions and annotations distinguish meanings via tone: the first tone (xiāng) generally marks reciprocity, while the fourth tone (xiàng) corresponds to the nominal senses (Minister/Appearance) or the verbal sense (Examine).

If a reciprocal reading creates a logical or syntactic clash in a passage, test for the meaning "examine" or "observe."