来而不往非礼也

Traditional form:

來而不往非禮也

Pinyin (reading):

lái'érbùwǎngfēilǐyě

Definitions:

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

Characters:

• 来 - to arrive, to come, to return; in the future, later on
• 而 - and, and then, and yet; but
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 往 - to go, to depart; past, former
• 非 - not, negative, non-; to oppose
• 礼 - courtesy, manners, social customs
• 也 - also, too

Traditional characters:

• 來 - to arrive, to come, to return; in the future, later on
• 而 - and, and then, and yet; but
• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 往 - to go, to depart; past, former
• 非 - not, negative, non-; to oppose
• 禮 - courtesy, manners, social customs
• 也 - also, too