协和 (xié hé) — to mediate, to harmonize, to bring into concord; (music) consonant

Definition

协和 (xiéhé) means 'to bring things into harmony or agreement' — a formal, written-register verb covering people, interests, colors, or musical sounds. Stronger and more literary than the everyday 和谐.

verb
to mediateto harmonizeto bring into concord(music) consonant

Examples

  • 协和。
    Zhèng fǔ nǔ lì xié hé gè fāng lì yì.
    The government is striving to harmonize the interests of all sides.
  • 协和，。
    Zhè liǎng zhǒng yán sè bú tài xié hé, xū yào tiáo zhěng.
    These two colors don't harmonize well and need adjustment.
  • 协和。
    Yīn yuè jiā zhuī qiú hé xián de xié hé xiào guǒ.
    Musicians seek the consonant effect of chords.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

协xiécooperate
和héharmony

'协' and '和' both carry the idea of bringing things together in harmony.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 協; 协 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 協 uses 劦, meaning 'to collaborate', plus 十 for sound; the simplified 协 is a later shorthand.

Open 协 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
禾
禾hé和hé
Same sound today

和 pairs 禾, which gives the sound, with 口 (mouth), the meaning part; the reference connects this shape to harmony.

Open 和 →

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