mutual

Compared meaning: shared or given by both sides (adjective).

比较义项：由双方（或多方）共同拥有、给予或感受到的（形容词）。

• mutual 本词

  Describes a feeling, interest or relationship shared equally between two or more people; common in everyday, personal contexts (mutual friend, mutual respect); does not imply a formal agreement or an exchange.

  描述两人或多人共同拥有的感情、兴趣或关系；常用于日常、私人语境（如 mutual friend、mutual respect）；不隐含正式协议或回报交换。

  Mutual trust between neighbors made borrowing tools no big deal.

  邻居之间的相互信任，让互相借用工具完全不是问题。

• bilateral

  Formal register, used mainly in politics, diplomacy or business; describes agreements, talks or arrangements made jointly by two specific countries, organizations or parties, not personal feelings.

  语域正式，主要用于政治、外交或商业场合；描述由两个具体国家、组织或团体共同达成的协议、会谈或安排，不用于个人感情。

  The two presidents held a bilateral meeting to improve diplomatic relations.

  两国总统举行了一场双边会晤，以改善外交关系。

• reciprocal

  Emphasizes an exchange: each side gives or feels back what the other gives; often used with 'arrangement' or 'exchange', or as a predicate ('the feeling is reciprocal'); implies fairness and give-and-take.

  强调一种交换：双方彼此给予或感受对方所给予的；常与 arrangement、exchange 搭配，或作表语（the feeling is reciprocal）；隐含公平、你来我往的意味。

  True friendship depends on reciprocal kindness, not favors given only once.

  真正的友谊靠的是相互的善意，而不是只给一次的恩惠。

Mutual, bilateral, and reciprocal describe something shared by both sides, but use differs. Mutual is neutral, for personal feelings, as in 'mutual friend'. Bilateral is formal, for political or business agreements between two countries. Reciprocal stresses an exchange, each side giving what the other gives.

这三个词都表示某种感情、行为或安排由双方共同拥有，但语气和使用场合不同：mutual 语气中性，多用于日常的情感或兴趣；bilateral 属于正式用语，多见于政治、外交或商业场合的协议和会谈；reciprocal 强调你来我往、对等回报的交换感，常见于友谊、善意或安排等语境。

Compared meaning: shared by two or more people (adjective).

比较义项：共同的（形容词）。

• mutual 本词

  Describes feelings, respect, or agreements held reciprocally between two specific people or parties; strongly collocates with 'friend', 'respect', and 'consent', and implies the relationship goes both ways.

  用于描述两个特定的人或团体之间相互的情感、尊重或协议；常与 friend、respect、consent 等词搭配，强调关系是双向的。

  They share a mutual friend who introduced them last year.

  他们有一个共同的朋友，是那位朋友去年介绍他们认识的。

• common

  Describes a trait, experience, or problem shared by many people in general, without implying any reciprocal relationship; used for widespread or frequent things, such as a common mistake or common interest.

  描述许多人普遍具有的特征、经历或问题，不涉及双向关系；常用于描述普遍或常见的事物，例如 common mistake（常见错误）或 common interest（共同兴趣）。

  Catching a cold in winter is very common among children.

  冬天感冒在儿童中是很常见的。

• joint

  Describes an action, project, or property undertaken or owned together by two or more parties, emphasizing shared responsibility or collaboration rather than emotion; common in business and legal contexts like joint venture or joint account.

  描述由两方或多方共同承担或共同拥有的行动、项目或财产，强调共同责任或合作，而非情感；常见于商业和法律语境，如 joint venture（合资企业）或 joint account（联名账户）。

  The two companies launched a joint venture to develop new software.

  这两家公司成立了一家合资企业来开发新软件。

Mutual, common, and joint all can mean 'shared', but focus differs. Mutual describes feelings held between two people, as in 'mutual friend'. Common describes something shared by many people, as in a common mistake. Joint describes action or property owned together, as in 'joint venture'.

这三个词都可表示“共同的”，但侧重不同：mutual 强调双方之间相互的情感或关系，最常见搭配是 mutual friend／mutual respect；common 强调许多人普遍共有，不强调双向性；joint 强调两方或多方共同参与的行动、项目或所有权。这里不比较 common 表示“普通的，平凡的”的义项，也不比较 joint 作名词表示“关节”的义项。