相应
xiāng yìng · HSK 5
to correspond
🔗 相 = mutual + 应 = respond → mutual response, corresponding
相 means mutual/each other; 应 means to respond or answer. Together they describe two things responding to each other in matching fashion — corresponding, in agreement, suitably aligned.
应 — 广 (shelter) + 心 (heart) + 隹 (bird)
Originally written 應, this character combined a phonetic component with 心 (heart) to suggest 'responding from the heart' or 'answering a call'. The simplified form 应 keeps the top portion. Over time it broadened from 'respond/answer' to also mean 'should' or 'ought to'.