来 而 不 往 非 礼 也

láiérbùwǎngfēilǐyě

not to reciprocate is against etiquette (classical); to respond in kind

Traditional 來而不往非禮也

Meaning

láiérbùwǎngfēilǐyělai2 er2 bu4 wang3 fei1 li3 ye3

7 strokes

6 strokes

4 strokes

8 strokes

5 strokes

3 strokes

lái · to arrive, to come, to return; in the future, later on

Radical 木 · 7 strokes · Parts 未丷

Ideographic: A wheat plant that has not yet borne fruit; compare 來

ér · and, and then, and yet; but

Radical 而 · 6 strokes

bù · no, not, un-; negative prefix

Radical 一 · 4 strokes

Ideographic: A bird flying toward the sky 一

wǎng · to go, to depart; past, former

Radical 彳 · 8 strokes · Parts 彳王

Pictophonetic: step

fēi · not, negative, non-; to oppose

Radical 非 · 8 strokes

Ideographic: Two bird's wings opposed; two people back-to-back

lǐ · courtesy, manners, social customs

Radical 礻 · 5 strokes · Parts 礻乚

Pictophonetic: spirit

yě · also, too

Radical 乚 · 3 strokes